My Dad, My Hero. John Robert Burford, JRB. Even his initials were great to me. A big, strong man, with a big daft grin, he could always make me happy, even when things seemed grim. He was a footballer and athlete in his younger days. He would show me his old Elmore Green school photos, all, in a black and white haze. At Blakenhall FC he was known as Big Bad John, named after the song, you know, the country & western one. I would love to be like my dad, I would think, be a great footballer, and have a few beers to drink. As I got older, I saw dad the businessman, a man in a suit, a well-respected salesman. Where ever we went, people would say ‘Hey John how are you, whats happening today’ ? How does he know all these people I would ask. Well, I can give you a clue, its not a big task. With that big daft grin and his friendly chat, who wouldn’t be happy to know a man like that. Now most of you will know my dad loved fishing with a passion. But did you know I made that sport his fashion. I remember coming home one day, ‘look Dad I have bought some fishing hooks’ I said ‘what have you done that for’ he looked, shaking his head. A few years later my dad was hooked. And over many years at Kings, in competitions, we were booked. He may have told you he caught the biggest fish. But I will always claim, mine was the biggest on the dish! As a final note, I think I should finish, as the light in dads eyes has finally diminished. I just hope dad, as you look down from your cloud, that my path through life made you very, very proud. Steve, Jayne, Charlie, Jack, Alice, Alfie & Florence