Sue Ransom
Without a doubt, my dad has been my greatest influence and inspiration.
A skilled cabinet maker and joiner who took great pride in his work, I don’t ever remember him shouting at my two younger brothers or me, but he was very firm and we certainly respected him and did as we were told.
Sadly he died 15 years ago at 64, just when he was looking forward to retirement.
I have many fond memories and lots of lessons.
Once when I referred to a girl on our street as ‘common’ he told me how disappointed he was with me, “just remember, you are no better than anyone in this world, but as good as everyone”
Not long before he died, I said to him, “You aren’t having a very good day today are you Dad?” His response, “I will be OK, there is all tomorrow not started on yet”
When he was forty, my brother and I, then around thirteen and fifteen, made him what

we thought was a very funny card – lots of jokes about getting old, labels from ‘Philosan’ and ‘Sanatogen’ etc. etc.
Twenty five years later, on my fortieth birthday, I opened a large envelope, inside was the card we’d made, attached to it was a note from Dad,
‘ You are never too old to learn’.