Gordon Henry Hembrow

My father was born on the 7th of February 1939 and died in the early morning of Friday 20th of March 2009.

It was sudden and completely unexpected. My mother and father had spent the previous evening with my sister and Dad felt healthy at that time.

None of us expected this to happen at all. A holiday was planned for Monday, and we were looking forward to my parents visiting us again later this year.

The first photo shows my father cycling here in Assen in October last year. He wasn't a very enthusiastic cyclist these days, but we went for short rides together when my parents visited. He told me tales years ago of riding with a full milk churns balanced on the top bar his bike, and making a trailer to carry more of them.

This photo is of my mother and father with me in their garden in Burnham-on-Sea in July 2006, just before I got on a train to head for Land's End. I was back with them by bike a couple of days later by bike, passing through again on the ride.


This photo was taken at the Bath and West show in Somerset. My father was selling baskets and my niece, Gemma, was helping out.


Looking out to sea from Burnham sea front, with Gemma and our eldest daughter, Eliza.

I miss my father. He was really a great person. Kind, helpful and hard working.

Somehow he seemed to know how to do almost any job. I can remember him doing everything from repairing the TV, plumbing, welding, woodwork. He was the best basket-maker I've met too.

He taught me many things. Including how to ride a bike (I remember being terrified that he'd let go, then he did and I was fine), how to repair a bike, how to make baskets.

There are some more photos of my father and his work here.