GEORGIE I would like to thank everybody for coming along to say goodbye today, it fills my heart to know that he had so many friends who thought as much of him as we all do. I'm sure that you will all have your own memories of George but I'd just like to share with you a few of my own. GEORGE’S KINDNESS His kindness was extraordinary even if it was sometimes inadvertently bad, sweets and chocolate bars bought home every night after work were all a staple part of my diet. The three large sugars in your tea gives you energy boy and they don't put chocolate in survival kits for no reason! He would give his last penny to those in need even if at times it was him himself that were the one in need. "well you can't take it with you" I remember him saying. His love affair with the local bookmaker got him in hot water with my Mum many times, but I can never remember going without and always had the latest must have gadget. My Rayleigh chopper bike, Casio Digital watch and the endless fun of writing SHELL OIL on the very first personal calculator are all fond memories. FAMILY He came from a gambling family. They all liked a flutter and the Tanner's played cards, rummy in particular, always at family gatherings you would find the boys and Dad (my Grandad Samuel) all seated around the dinning room table with a pack of cards and a pile of pennies. On occasion I would get to join in but this painfully slow child who could barely hold the seven cards in his hand was quickly ushered away so that the serious game could begin. The family owned and trained greyhounds, Southend dog track was a surrogate home during my early years and whilst I loved the dogs the gambling side never rubbed off on me. He loved horse racing and a super yankee, tax paid, was his bet of choice. Trips to the bookies waned later in life but his love of football never did and on our last night together we watched his second favourite team, Spurs, beat Shamrock Rovers 3-1 GEORGE AND WORK He always had me call him George when we'd work together, he said that it was better than Dad as I'd sound like the Dick Emery character that always got things wrong. He was a handy bloke to know and was capable in most areas of the building trade. Not just a painter and decorator Georgie would turn his hand to many jobs from Greyhound trainer to Sign fitter. I'd worked with George most of my life from bunking off school Friday afternoons, out on the tools, fencing and later working together in my own business. BAND SUPPORTER He always supported my love of music. There when I bought my first guitar he endured the torture of a teenager learning to play. He supplied the cheapest rehearsal room ever, and we would regularly have a five piece band pumping out rock whilst George would be supplying the tea and biscuits. He would support the bands that I played in going to gig after gig, carrying gear, laying on transport and of course supplying the all important beer and fags! I remember one time he'd made myself and a fellow guitarist a plate of sausage sandwiches to which my friend politely declined on the grounds that he was a vegetarian. Georges' reaction was not to apologise at maybe causing offence but to exclaim "don't talk bloody silly". The two of them became firm friends and George never tried to force feed meat to anyone ever again. Friendship was the norm with George, it was never very long before my friends would stop referring to him as ‘Dan's Dad’ and he would become Georgie, a life long friend of their own. FUNNY SAYINGS He had many little sayings and some of you here today may remember "Nooo, that’s the worst thing you can do" my personal favourites include "a couple or three" and "that'll learn yer" Georgie was what we call a little swear worder, and for many years growing up I thought that swearing was a proper form of punctuation. His pet name for me is unrepeatable here but I recall that I was the “silly little something”. I would like to continue with this short verse: Five Minutes If I only had five minutes more the day you passed away, I would have had time to tell you all the things I needed to say. I never got to tell you how much you mean to me, Or that you were the best dad, better than any man could be. If I only had five minutes more the morning you passed away, I'd kiss your cheek and take your hand and tell you it's okay I'd give you one last hug so tight and see your great big smile. And tell you that I'll miss you and I’d hold you for a while. But you were gone so quickly, One last sleep you would take. Before I even knew it, you were standing at heaven’s gate. My thoughts are always with you, your place no one can fill. In life I loved you dearly, In death I love you still. There will always be a heartache and often a silent tear, But also precious memories of the days when you were here. You left behind some grieving hearts with love for you so deep, We never will forget you George, may God bless you while you sleep. LOVELY MAN When speaking about his life with Family and friends, and also while reading their condolences one phrase continues to appear, 'he was a lovely man'. He always supported and encouraged me in anything I ever did or tried. I don't believe I would have achieved nearly as much without him there. I will miss him so much, always there with a strong, sweet cup of tea. To many he was a lovely man, to me he was Georgie, my Dad.