Grant was born on 9 June 1941 and grew up in Fulwood on Victoria Road with his brother Roderic and parents Ernie and Jessie. He went to Kennington Road Primary School before spending a year at Cadley waiting for Fulwood High School to open as he was in the first year to attend.

He also had a Saturday job riding a delivery bike for Arthur Weigh’s butchers, before serving his time as a joiner with a local firm Beetham’s he attended Fulwood Methodist Church, including Sunday School, Scouts and later the Youth Club, where he helped his dad Ernie. This is where he first met our mum, Doreen. They were in the same social group and went out with each other on and off from the age of 14, swapping around within the group, but always ending up back with each other. On 9 September 1961 they married at Fulwood Methodist Church and moved into their first house in Hesketh Street at Ashton. Ann Marie was born 16 months later then David 15 months after.

Claire was born after they moved to Lytham Road. Later at Oxford Road, Grant loved keeping the garden in tip top shape; even on the morning before going into hospital he was in his garden, so volunteer gardeners are now required to keep up the good work with Mum.

He loved spending time with the grandchildren and over the last 17 years has been at home after having his heart bypasses in 1998, so he was on hand for child- minding duties, including walking them to and from school. He also loved his sport and each Saturday would watch this, whilst Mum escaped for a little retail therapy, having to hide her secret shopping spoils on her return.

When we heard Dad had gone into hospital with angina pains we were not worried as he often had niggles. The routine was that the doctors would change his tablets, he’d flirt with the nurses, then they would send him on his way to fight another day, bouncing back "like a rubber ball" as he used to say.

However, it was not to be this time and although he told us he had his "rubber suit" on he wasn’t able to bounce back, but he knew we were all there with him. I never fell out with my Dad and always did as I was told; I was his big girl he used to say, so when he said we were going to fall out if I didn’t let him go, I did as I was told for the last time and let go of his hand. He was then able to be at peace knowing we all loved him, with Mum and the family at his side.

God Bless you Dad – we miss you xxx