Alan Worth (7 Jul 1933 - 3 Jul 2018)

This tribute is In loving memory of My Dad,

Alan WORTH

(7.7.33 – 3.7.18 Barrow-Upon-Soar)

How do you sum up 85 years in a few words, here goes..

Dad was born on the 7th July 1933 at Syston Road Barrow-Upon-Soar – one of two brothers and a son to his mother Edna May Florence WORTH. Due to Edna being a single mother (back in those days) the inevitable happened and Dad was adopted by Lewis and Margaret HALL who lived in MARKFIELD. Sadly Dads brother Derek passed away in 1972. Lewis passed away in 1980 shortly after Margaret.

Dad had a happy childhood and although brought up as a Methodist he never practiced the religion. Dad lived in Little Markfield and later at Croft Way Markfield, it was on his paper round in Markfield he stopped and watched a bricklayer and thought I can do that and the rest as they say is history.

Lewis will always have a place in my heart as it my middle name, my sons middle name and more recently my grandsons middle name.
Dad attended Broom Leys School in Coalville It was during these formative years at school Dad developed what was to be a life-long love of football. Despite having a welsh sports teacher (Which meant the School played Rugby not Association Football) Dad went on to have trials for the Leicestershire schools team at Under 15 and was instrumental in the formation of The Humberstone Vics Football team when they played with a pile of clothes as goalposts on Humberstone Park on a Sunday morning. Dad always said there would be no Sunday League Football if they hadn’t done that !

Dad met my mum Beryl (one of the many Greenwood Children !) when they were both Townies and they married in August 1957, completing the family with the arrival of me Alan, Carol, Des, Mandy, Paula and Glenn.

I remember living in Flint Street Leicester in a 3 bed terrace, tin bath and outside loo with Carol, Des, Mandy, Paula we then moved to Wigley Road, Netherhall and about 7 years later we were all surprised by the arrival of our brother Glenn. Sunday afternoon Dad would not allow us to play in street because people were resting (I think he meant having a sleep after they had been to the local hostelry at dinner time) However before the obligatory Sunday rest we would go with Dad to visit the sweet shop on the Charny we could have a quarter of anything.

Living at Wigley Road with 6 of us kids and Dad and Mum meant that things sometimes got a bit hectic and gave rise to yet more sayings of Dads
“Sunday night madness again”.
“All the lights on again do you think I’m made of money, or who do you think I am Charlie Clore, apparently one of the richest men in Great Britain at that time”
“Who’s turn is it to clean the shoes” - we used to take it turns to polish all the shoes in readiness for school the next day

As mentioned earlier part of dads love of football led him to become a lifelong Supporter of Leicester City FC, still holding his season ticket at 81/82 which he relinquished when he couldn’t walk into the ground.

I remember going to LCFC at Filbert Street and sitting on the Terrace Wall, Freezing in my duffle coat aged about 8 yrs but enjoying the hotdogs on the way home. This became somewhat of a tradition and Dad took Des when he was about 16 and Glen when he was about 12 as he had two season tickets for the centre stand at that time they were spoilt ! a seat !!. A footballer I wasn’t but neverless I gave it a go as did his granddaughter Laura, we both played for Humberstone Rangers Football Club (not at the same time) and Dad was very proud when Laura got her 10 year shield from club-1st girl in their history to get it.

Dad did his National Service we think around 1956 he never spoke much about this other than he was was a sapper in the Royal Engineers, he spoke about his boxing weight in the engineers but never mentioned any bouts he had.
Although a bricklayer by trade when times were hard Dad would be able to find work turning his hand to anything to make sure food went on the table, selling hotdogs in Loughborough on a Friday and Saturday evening, taxi driving, ran his own company and even serving behind the bar in the Windmill (There’s a surprise) There was also a spell working in Germany (before Auf Wiedersehen, Pet) and we have the photo to prove it !
Few little known facts for my siblings -- that will be known to some of the older members of the family
Up until very recently not known to my sisters

Dad always made sure we had a good holiday every year and Me, Carol, Des, Mandy, Paula have fond memories at Skeggy and Great Yarmouth (don’t think Glenn had the pleasure of Camping at Skeggy in the tent in the wind and rain) but he will remember the Caravan Holidays and The Pontins holidays at a number of sites around the country and the holidays abroad which incidentally Carol and I never got to go on ! but Paula could take her friend Jo!). It was on these holidays as kids we were all given a daily amount of spending money and one of dads many famous sayings was spawned - “when it’s gone it’s gone, don’t come back for any more!” and when at Skeggy and Great Yarmouth the arcades developed into a bit of a fascination for Des and part of our spending money changed into our 1p’s & 2p’s for the slot machines shortly later dad could be heard saying – “Des is all spent out again ”

Whilst family life bought dad much joy into his life one of his greatest regrets was divorcing my mum Beryl, and Maria and I spent many hours talking to him about this on his regular stays at our house and I know he has said the same to Carol, Des and Paula.

Dad was immensely proud of all his grand children, Adam, Mark, Sam, Craig, Lucy, Amy, Laura, Joseph, Jake and Luke and great grand children Austin, Millie and Max. All providing him with academic and sporting achievements which he was more than happy to share with his friends and colleagues.
At his 84th Birthday Part party at his Club he said to me with tears in his eyes “how lucky am I ? to have all this, gesturing to the gathered people Me, Carol, Des, Paula and Glenn with children and grandchildren and friends including Maria and Stuart who had flown from Portugal to be there.

Dad can be described as forward thinking and he and Mum gave us all driving lessons as it was a “life skill” we’d need-perhaps although the two youngest did not take him up on that offer with Paula not learning until much much later & Glenn......well, he never did!!! Should have listened to his dad. This is something that we have all passed onto our kids and gave rise to another of dads saying “what I do for one I do for all of you”

Another forward thinking idea from Dad was, he was one of the first people to own a Skoda I have to say before they became the quality car they are today purely because of the smaller more economical engine, although I could never get my head around why the engine was in the boot, I also had the “dubious pleasure of driving it”
Dad also valued education and supported us in whatever way he could. He always said Carol should have gone into Teaching (“you would have made more money he told her”) Carol replied to this by saying, well 3 of my children are teachers so that will have to do! He often reminded Carol that he’d offered to help her set up a private nursery in the years after completing her Nursery Nursing training about 40 years ago “That’s where the money is” he used to say, & he turned out to be right-but she didn’t listen!!!

Dad supported me when I failed to get sufficient O Level grades for teacher training college to be a sports teacher, but Maggie Thatcher cut that idea short and I ended being Quantity Surveyor prior to joining the Police. Dad supported my walking and attended many many races even had his Hamilton construction van fitted with seats to take me and my team to many races.

He got Des his job at Dewhursts butchers , with one of those “not what you know , but who you know!!!” Dad wanted Des to pursue his education to get more bits of paper but Des being Des just wanted to get out to work.
Dad was strict with Paula and her homework and would not let her go out until it had been done , if Paula was late home she was grounded (think it was called being sent to your room in those days) He was supportive of Paula’s work especially when she was young and worked at Cleethorpes market with Jo , selling shoes. Dad really liked Jason always said she’d got a good un in him.

Though the youngest Dad was always supportive of all the decisions Glenn made in life and financially (including a skiing trip to France !!) and supported him through school and college.

The thing that sticks in Glenns mind the most is -- at one of Leicesters games dad was the one that got him shouting "come on you blue boys!" when city kick off! And Glenn still does it every game too!

Dad got Mandy her first and only part time at the Chip Shop in Humberstone village and earning money at that young age has helped Mandy becomes as financially smart as dad. Again dad was supportive and encouraging with Mandys schoolwork.

Just one thing to add if ever we thought about skiving off school dad always said if you’re well enough to get out of bed you’re well enough to go to school. Something I personally carried into my working life.
I’m sure you’ll be all aware how astute dad was, he loved a bargain and was loathe to pay above the odds for anything and always seemed to know someone who did this or sold that and would say “Its not what you know its who you know” this also gave rise to yet another one of his sayings “Don’t worry about the bits”

Carol and Paula will tell you when they went shopping for dad he would say just get Morrisons own brand of course Carol and Paula seemed to have selective hearing where that was concerned.

As you will all know my dad liked a pint or two, Mild was his favoured beer until it was so hard to find he went onto bitter, when he got full up of beer he would reach for the brandy and in later years vodka and lemonade. He really enjoyed family get togethers at the pub or restaurant and was always the first to buy a round and the last to buy a round as well as the rounds in between.

Dad was a man of few words and I know he said to my sister Carol on her wedding day, in the car on way to church, “remember I’m your Dad & I always will be”

Dad was also a straight-talker – determined and strong-willed and I recall that one Friday afternoon on a building site on Gypsy lane as pay packets were handed out and checked his gang were all moaning about being short so dad got up and marched to the clerk of Works, and as he went he was asked where he was going and he said “sort this out” and he did. Part of being a straight talker if anyone did anything wrong he would call them a joskin, I never knew what a joskin was I just knew not to do anything to be called one.

Of course, no tribute to him could omit mentioning his love of music, anything from the 60’s, and anything that was on at Baileys when it was at its peak for you young uns Baileys was a night club / disco that had all the big stars of the day in the seventies
- Norman Wisdom, Tommy Cooper, Showaddywaddy, Lulu, Larry Grayson (who remembers his catchphrase 'shut that door'?), the Drifters, Matt Munro, the Grumbleweeds, Hurricane Smith, Charlie Williams, Roger Whittaker, Tiny Tim and Neil Sedaka to name but a few,

and as always if you went with dad which I did he would always give the Maitre d Frank HALFORD a “tip” and we ended up at the front with one of the best tables in the house – its not what you know !
Dad loved the old classic comedies and comedians – Morecombe and Wise and Benny Hill, I think when we were younger he was embarrassed by us watching Benny Hill with him due to the double entendres in every line.
Dad made many friends and lasting friendships with people over the years and some of you are here today too, sadly now many of those have passed on.

As for his other pastimes, Dad tried to become a member of Scraptoft Golf Club he said he got blackballed cos he was wearing a leather Jacket at the interview. Dad had a real love of Bowling and the Belmont Services Club but could never master Bowling and gave it up becoming a committee member instead and was still doing his bit, repairing the garden wall when he was 83, dad also built the outdoor smoking area at the club. The club used to open every Wednesday in the week the main reason was that Dad used to pop in for a couple of pints.

From what you’ve heard and what you know from your own relationships with my Dad is that, he really did live, love and laugh his way through this one precious life we get and there really is no better life than one that’s been well-lived and in which we’ve really loved and been so very loved in return. A sentiment that I know to be true for Dad who valued you all and you, him in return. When he found out he had cancer he was so brave and said that he was OK about it and said he had had a good life done everything he wanted to do and most of all he had no regrets other than that concerning my mum. This knowledge helped him to make his decisions over his cancer treatments.

We are all going to miss you Dad in lots of ways.

Written by his Son Alan Lewis WORTH