Stanley Aubrey Hanks (2 Dec 1919 - 23 Aug 2014)

Would have been 100 years old today!
Happy Birthday Grand...

IM SURE THAT EVERYBODY THINKS THAT THEIR FATHER IS THE BEST, THE DIFFERENCE FOR ME IS THAT MY FATHER ACTUALLY WAS
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO EXPRESS THE SENSE OF LOSS THAT WE FEEL, BUT…
WE ARE MORE THAN AWARE THAT WE ARE IN A SENSE THE LUCKY ONES
NOT MANY PEOPLE HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THE WISDOM, KINDNESS, GENEROSITY, AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE OF SUCH A WONDERFUL MAN
TO HAVE HAD HIM FOR AS LONG AS WE DID MAKES ME AWARE OF HOW BLESSED WE HAVE BEEN.
MY OVERWHELMING AND ABIDING MEMORIES ARE OF HOW MUCH WE LAUGHED AND OF HAVING MORE FUN THAN ANYBODY ELSE I KNEW
MY DADS ABILITY TO LAUGH AND TO MAKE OTHERS (ESPECIALLY ME) LAUGH WAS HIS GREATEST GIFT, AND NEVER LEFT HIM
THE GOOD MEMORIES I HAVE ARE TOO NUMEROUS TO EVEN ATTEMPT TO DO JUSTICE TO HIM
WHETHER IT WAS DRIVING TO BARCELONA SAT ON THE WHEEL ARCH OF A FORD ANGLIA VAN, OR HIDING IN THE LIVING ROOM FROM AN UNWANTED VISITOR , OR GOING CRABBING IN THE ROCK POOLS ON HOLIDAY AS LONG AS DAD WAS THERE WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO LAUGH
HE WAS THE SIMPLY THE BEST DAD YOU COULD EVER HAVE HAD
AS CLEVER A MAN AS I HAVE EVER KNOWN AND THE MOST GENEROUS PERSON YOU COULD IMAGINE, I DON’T THINK IN MY CHILDHOOD THAT DAD EVER ATE A MEAL WITHOUT ME SAT ON HIS LAP FINISHING IT WITH HIM
I HAVE ON MANY OCCASSIONS EXPRESSED TO FRIENDS MY DEPTH OF FEELING AND I ALWAYS USE THE SAME PHRASE
“IF HE HADNT BEEN MY DAD HE WOULD HAVE BEEN MY BEST MATE “
AND JUST WHEN I THOUGHT THAT THAT ROLE COULD NEVER BE SURPASSED HE TURNED OUT TO BE AN AWE INSPIRING GRANDFATHER
HIS ADORATION OF ALL OF HIS GRANDCHILDREN WAS EVIDENT IN HIS GLOWING PRIDE OF ALL THEIR MANY ACHEIVEMENTS WHETHER IT WAS (IN MY CASE) SCARLETTS TENNIS , HAYLEYS SINGING, GABRIELLAS CREATIVE WORK OR SABRINAS TRAVEL TALES , YOU COULD SEE THE SATISFACTION THAT HIS BELOVED GRANDCHILDREN GAVE HIM , AND IN RETURN HE GAVE THEM SO MUCH , LOVE, ADVICE , TALES OF HIS SMALL PART IN HITLERS DOWNFALL, THEY WOULD SIT TRANSFIXED AS HE TOLD TALES FROM HIS PAST , SOMETIMES TRAGIC , OFTEN FUNNY, ALWAYS FASCINATING AND EVER HUMBLE
I KNOW THAT ANN AND BARRIE WOULD LIKE TO ADD A FEW WORDS FROM THEM , HE LOVED THEM AS THEY LOVED HIM . HE WAS A TOWER OF STRENGTH FOR THEM THROUGHOUT , TO THEIR CHILDREN , GLENN , MARK AND KAREN HE WAS SIMPLY GRANDAD , MUCH LOVED AND HE WILL BE MUCH MISSED
WE NOW HAVE TO GET USED TO LIFE WITHOUT HIM, BUT IF EVER A MAN EQUIPPED HIS OFFSPRING TO COPE THEN DAD DID
IF I CAN BE HALF THE MAN HE WAS THEN THAT WILL BE MY GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT
THANK YOU DAD
SIMPLY THE BEST PERSON I HAVE EVER KNOWN

Dear Stan/Dad

You were my dad for more years than my real dad who died when I was 11. You gave me away at my wedding to your son and were very supportive to me when my marriage broke up. Goodbye x

Truly the most selfless, funny, incredible man that I was lucky enough to be able to call my grandpa.
I'm so sad you had to leave us, but so happy that we had so many years of you making us laugh.
You will always be missed, and you will forever be loved. Xxxxxx

I love you 'Grand'
Forever memories of bluebell picking, crusty bread, watercress, the 'Yellow Masilica' and cups of tea that were 'the best this side of Bengazi'. You gave me an independence I had never known by purchasing my first car, enabling me to get through university and qualify as a teacher, you were the first person I knew to love books and poetry a passion I will carry on always. Your quick wit and sharp mind made me laugh all the time and your zest for life was glorious. I know you would proud of me now, I live on and enjoy every day in your memory. I was in Pula last year, and I said a prayer with my babies, your blood, your kin, by the field amongst the poppies, my brother was there this year and thought of you so much too, where you were many years ago. We lost you years ago really, I know that but you know I love you and I will look after Nanny as best I can manage and I will never forget you. The pride that you fought for our country to be free is always with me and every citizen of this country owes you a debt that is unmeasurable. I wear my poppy every year with pride in your memory, you were there, you lived, your fought, you made that difference. I love you Soldier, a fighter until the end, and 'Grand' in every sense of the word. Reunited with your daughter Victoria xxxxx Love always, your Grand daughter Katy xxxx

Grandad,
I ll always remember your funny and quiet comments made at Nans expense , you said them quietly enough for her not to hear you but loud enough for us to hear and we d laugh and Nan would know you d said something funny. She didn t mind though I don t think.
I also remember watching you whenever the boxing was on T.V and you d be ducking and weaving and you re feet and hands would be twitching, I don t think I realised then what a huge part of your life boxing had been.
You were a very funny man and much loved.
You will be missed greatly.
Rest now Grandad.

Love
Karen

RIP dear Uncle Stan. I will always remember your kindness to us as children and particularly when Dad died. Your sense of humour sharp wit were a precious gifts that set you apart. Valerie