David Matthews (1 Feb 1937 - 26 Feb 2018)

In loving memory of David Matthews who sadly passed away on 26th February 2018.
David had been suffering with Alzheimers for the past 7 years.

Tribute to David Matthews

The very outgoing, thorough people person Dave! as he preferred to be called was the middle of three children born to Richard and Doris, with the late John and Janice who is with us today his siblings.

The love of football was kindled in Dave’s heart as a young lad and he would forever be a supporter of the Tricky Trees of Nottingham Forest. Dave was not at all bad with a ball at his own feet the family said. He could have perhaps gone on to play professionally having had some trials, but the lack of family finances at the time put paid to any idea he might have had about that.

It was the 1st of February 1937 when Dave’s warm and kind persona first appeared!
But before we start painting him as the total Saint, we have to mention he was bit mischievous as young boy, his sister Janice reflected.

He did like to tease her, and that Catherine wheel that he put on the wall that subsequently shot off down the garden with her in hot pursuit!! or was that the other way around? Sticks vividly in her mind! And Dave was forever kicking his beloved football over the edge to Mrs Sissons garden, whom always stubbornly refused to give it back.

We used to fallout over the single deck chair Janice said, and I recall Dave having a good circle of friends, and usually Tom and George would visit most nights with our mum making them sandwiches whilst they listened to guy Mitchell or on occasion using the companion set as a driving set. Well there was no playstaion in those days and you had to improvise.
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They have remained close over the years and Janice’s family husband Gary, their son Darren and his wife Mandy along with their children Sam and Matt, always having had a place in Dave’s heart.

Sadly it was not all fun and games as their father died when only quite young and Dave did all that he could to help by taking two jobs, a paper round and delivering for a local butcher, just to help his mum out. He was a loving and kind young man; but he was not really one for the education at the Ellis school,he was never that keen on the academia the family recalled.

Dave’s first role on leaving education and prior to his National Service was as a bricklayer.
During his service he was mainly posted in Germany. Dave leant to drive and enjoyed his role as a Batman driving around the Top Brass.

Having given his 3 years to Queen and Country Dave returned to Civvie Street and began working in the family fabric business on the then Sneinton Market.

It was a job that Dave was surely born for and he was never to leave it. He was
known by many and loved by many more, making many friends and acquaintances along with regular clientele.

The business later moved to the Victoria Centre and Dave carried on working and plying his trade until he retired at 65.

He was ever happiest at work or in Jersey! Few loved the Channel Island more than Dave, but more about that later.

He had met his first wife Diane Straw through a group of friends, and they married in 1961.
Sadly the relationship did not work out and ended 13 years later. The double silver lining however was his daughter Michele, of whom he was so proud.

Michele saying of her dad “he was kind, generous, protective and loving” “We have eaten out a great deal, played Golf and worked together.
We have never had a cross word and always enjoyed the time spent. He never judged me; he was a funny gentle
man who has always been a constant in my life. I am very proud and blessed to have him as my Dad”

Dave did marry again meeting his soul mate Pamela Dobbs at the Nottingham Palais on a Blind Date she said. He was a lovely handsome gentleman, and I was thrilled when we later married at the Shakespeare Street registry offices in 1979.
It was a lifetime of happiness, lovely holidays, and being a golf widow on occasion but tha twas fine.

Those holidays were mainly in Jersey, Dave’s favourite place in the world, they had tried Spain once and he burned his legs and was never to go again, much preferring the more temperate climate of the Channel Islands.

We would go twice year, at Christmas and during the summer, savouring the very best of British food with a glass of best merlot, Dave was partial to his merlot, but never over indulging, he was ever a British gentleman in all things.

The golf was a passion for him and Michele taught him in the early years, as she plays at a high standard and has travelled extensively with it. When not playing golf 3times a week at the Belton club whilst making many friends, no why is it we are surprised by that?

Dave would be walking with his heart Pam in the Peaks of Derbyshire, they have covered many miles of the county of Derbyshire over the years and yet Chatsworth remained a true favourite.

The love of western movies was Dave’s preferred watch on TV, Alan Ladd and then later Clint Eastwood.
He was never reader unless the sports page of the newspaper counts? But Dave still played his beloved football in a five a side team until he was 50 years old.

Dave did revel in being a nosey neighbour, a proper curtain twitcher Pam said, he liked to know what was going on and never failed in finding out all the gossip throughout the years, whether at home or at work.

His own humour latterly was for the antics of Mrs Brown boys; prior to that it would be Morecambe and Wise making him laugh heartily. The last few years of Dave’s life had not been so kind and he was suffering with Alzheimer’s.

Pam has stoically taken care of Dave for a number of years at home but sadly eventually he had to go into a care home, which began a further decline in his health which has brought us all here today.

The very outgoing, through people person that was David Matthews, Dave to most is going to be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. He was a son, brother,husband and father bar none, may he now rest in the peace he truly needed.