At 5:45pm Sunday 25th October 2009, John Jewers peacefully passed away. Both myself, his youngest son Scott and his beloved wife Tanya were with him at this time to say goodbye and to comfort him on his final journey wherever that may take him. John accomplished so many things in his life, he was the most self motivated man I have ever known. As his son from his second marriage I only knew him for half of his life, but the stories he told me gave me a small idea of his achievements. The way he told them were not in the way of boasting though, he lived his life as an adventure, nothing ventured... nothing gained. I learned about his early family holidays with his mum and dad hop picking, strawberry picking. How he wished for the 2nd world war to start so he wouldn't have to finish school and take his exams, a wish that came true unfortunately. His job as a young teenager in an office building as an air raid lookout that lasted less than a week once his mum found out. Being a member of the home guard, he used to love 'Dad's Army' How proud he was to join the Navy and how he always wanted to be a signalman but was forced to become a telegraphist due to being colour blind. His adventures and experiences of the war, training, close shaves, Normandy, Arromanches. Not forgetting that he was one of 6 people who liberated Rotterdam from the German occupation. Serving his final years for the Royal Navy based in the Falkland Islands of which he had fond, if not cold memories. Then after the war, working in a factory that made foil and how he and his mates were the ones who started the trend of wrapping their sandwiches up for lunch in foil, but at the same time being a fireman as part of the AFS, a voluntary fire brigade working alongside the regulars, most famously helping to control the Barking Wood Yard fire in 1961. After that he settled down to raise his family but tragically his wife died suddenly, I don't know when or the details of how, this was something he did not share with me in detail. His Son and Daughter, John & Pam had now moved out and he was on his own again, he was an entrepreneur running successful hand car washes in London and Essex but wanted, needed someone to love again. This is where he met Tanya, my mother. I don’t know exactly but from what I remember being told and can work out, he was 43 when they met, she was 17. Frowned upon by some because of that age difference, especially in those times, but those who knew him could see this was meant to be... True Love! They married on June 16th 1970 and then on June 15th 1971 I was born, his youngest son. I have the fondest memories of my Dad, he worked away a lot in my youngest days to provide for us as best he could. Everyone had financial problems in the 70's we were no exception, his car washing business failed through no fault of his own, but Dad would always find a way to provide for us, for me. I was a spoiled brat and only thought about myself, looking back on it he would have given his life for me or mum in a heartbeat as long as we were happy. There were many times he went the extra mile, just to make me smile, the problem is there were so many times I can't remember anything specifically. My childhood was as perfect as it could have been, not a thing could I or would I want to change. He always kept me interested in things and would nurture my interests and hobbies. He was a perfect Dad and there is nothing more I need to say in that respect. This is an example and something that will stay in my memory for eternity, I was a typical idiotic 21 year old, with a fast car. I got stopped for speeding, but not a fixed penalty, ooooh no! I was travelling at 67mph in a 30 zone (Funnily the location of this was Silvertown Way in the docklands which was where he used to work at the foil factory before I was born so I understand). So I told him what had happened, he seemed to be the only person I could talk to about it... most people would have gone mad and called me an idiot, which I was. But he didn't! He comforted me, seeing I was scared of the consequences of what I had done and the uncertainty of what would happen. A month passed with various communication with the police and the courts which he constantly advised me of the best action to take. He drove me to the court just in case I lost my license and couldn't drive myself home. He sat in the court room and I'm certain he wanted to take my place to help me but he couldn't. Patiently watched me crucify myself in front of the magistrates, but in the end I was allowed to keep my license. I would like to say I have never sped again on a public highway, but let’s just say I have never attempted to go that far over a speed limit since that day. Not because of the court case or how lucky I was not to be banned, but because I felt I had let him down and he might have a lesser opinion of me if I were to make the same stupid mistake again and not learn anything from it. I do not for one minute think I would have been able to do that on my own, it was his undeniable support that gave me the courage to take my punishment. It was at that moment I realised what an amazing man my dad was, not just an amazing father, but as a man among other men, he stood out! He never judged people, he looked for the good in everyone and in every situation. I decided then that this is how I was going to live my life. He was a father to everyone, he always felt responsible and you could feel his compassion toward others when he spoke to them and advised and helped them wherever he could. He had true wisdom from his experience of life. I have been criticised for giving people the benefit of the doubt and not being able to say no so many times, I'm sure people criticised him too, but he lived his life how he wanted and I know he had no regrets and lived the equivalent of two lifetimes. I am glad he got to see me grow up into a man and finally get on top of my finances, it was one of my ambitions to be self supporting, to prove to him I wouldn’t be a burden on mum when he had to leave us, I hope I did that and gave him that comfort. This perfect man, my father, dad, best friend, teacher, confidant, my hero, made me into the man I have become, I am so proud of his achievements I want to shout it from the highest hilltop and announce it to the world. If I were a newspaper editor I would make it front page news that this is how every man in the world should live their life, he is an example of a perfect gentleman. If everyone in the world were like him, there would be no war, no poverty, no greed, no suffering. Just compassion, wisdom and a love for life to make everyone’s life that little bit happier and easier. Rest in peace Dad X X X You did not deserve to suffer as you did, you are at peace now, no more suffering, no more pain. I wish you could have lived forever but I know if you had outlived your children or your wife again it would have broken your heart beyond repair. I am not religious, I wish I was, but if there is another place for us after we leave this life then they are the lucky ones as they have you to make them smile and I know you’ll be looking in on us to guide us through our lives as you always did when you were here. I hope you know how much you are loved, respected and cherished.