Paul Hinds (17 Dec 1934 - 23 May 2016)

In loving memory of Paul Hinds who sadly passed away on 23rd May 2016.Dad, as he was known by his family…Paul, as he was known by his friends and Scrap-Iron, as he was known by his very good friends was born in Trench Town, Kingston, Jamaica in 1934. He was an only child and brought up by his Mother, Esmie.

He came to ‘Mother Land’ in 1962 in search of a better Life with brighter prospects and came with a trade in his hand. He was a furniture restorer and French polisher. He applied his trade diligently and professionally with great success. He appeared quite an aloof and standoffish man from the outside and would very rarely allow someone to enter within ‘his world’, but once you gained his confidence and he let you in, you soon became a friend for life.

He did things the old fashioned way…the ‘good way’, he would refer to them. From spending hours on polishing his shoes, making sure he had a clean, white handkerchief on him, always adorned with a string vest under his smart appearance and making sure that the brass door knocker, number and foot plate of the family house was always shining, he was a man all about detail.

He met his wife, Gloria Monica Hinds, in England and the two married in 1963. The set up home in Croydon and further extended the family. Monica unfortunately passed away in February 2013.

After having a few jobs in and around Croydon, Paul landed himself a job with the Post Office. This is where he then spent the next 35 years until retirement. He had an exemplary record at the Post Office with an impeccable 35 years of service…impressive by any means, especially known that he had no time-off within that period. He worked his way up from a Postman on the rounds up to a Postman Senior Higher Grade. In the early days he could be seen cycling around Croydon doing his rounds on a rusty old bicycle. He always showed a great deal of pride in his work and wanted his family to appreciate and be grateful for their opportunities as well…because he knew Life was tough.

Coming from the West Indies, he had a passion for Dominos and Cricket as well as Darts and Boxing. Some people called him the Gentle Giant, others called him Scrap-Iron but the imposing figure of a man that he was, he did have a heart of Gold although he exercised it with some tough love. One thing that he cherished more than anything was the time that he spent with his grandchildren.

This robust man was eventually begotten by sickness. Later on in his Life, Paul went through a bout of Prostrate cancer, which hit him, hard and was then caught up by Parkinson’s disease and Dementia and this started to quickly grab a hold of this once physically strong man. Paul spent the final years of his life in a nursing home where he was truly loved by the staff and patients alike.

Eventually the disease got the better of him and on Monday 23rd May, Paul passed over to be once again at the side of his wife in the presence of the Lord.

Paul leaves behind children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
We are going to miss you big time!!

The Family!