Douglas Albert Dye

Douglas Albert Dye - My Grandad

Passed over December, 1988

Grandad was a mechanic, he worked mainly on Lorries.

Grandad was born in Leytonstone and lived there all his life.

He had 3 Brothers and a Sister Donald, Bill, Ronnie, Kenny, and Doris.

He was married to Doreen and had 4 children, Sylvia, Donald, John and David. And had 8 Grandchildren, Jon, Lee, Anita, Sharon, Lisa, Joanne, Michael and Paul.

Grandad was a loving caring and funny man, he loved Nanny and his family very much. He came from a big family.
He taught me and my Brother Paul to play dominos, which we still play now, and have taught my children.
Sadly he has never met his 10 Great Grandchildren but Im sure he is watching over them, he would have loved to have been part of thier lives.

Grandad suffered from heart problems from the age of 21, he was in and out of hospital most of his adult life, he had open heart surgery when he was in his 30’s and then he had a double heart bypass in the mid 50s. I can remember going to visit him in hospital.

When we were babies he used to get us off sleep by putting us against his heart, because he had had a couple of ribs removed, and the sound of his heart beat would send us off to sleep. He was a fighter and did not let his health problems interfere with his life, he just got on with it as best he could, he always had time to play with us and play his practical jokes on us.

When he finished his job, due to ill health, he made himself busy around the house, I will always remember, my Nan collected china/porcelain ornaments, most were bought for her as Christmas presents (talking of Christmas presents you could tell that he had wrapped them up, we couldn’t undo the bloody things) from the family, well I remember going there one day (I used to go there for my lunch as my school was just up the road) and Nan said “guess what your Grandad’s done” I said what’s he done now Nan, he had varnished all her figures, because he was bored, we did laugh. That’s what he was like, he was funny, in their back room he used sit in a chair by the door leading into the kitchen, when we’d walk passed he would nip the backs of our legs, if you sat next to him, he grab your knees he just couldn’t help himself. When I was allowed to start wearing make-up I was about 12-13 he didn’t like it, I went there with Mum and Dad one day, and Grandad said get that ****off your face.

Like I said I used to go there for my lunch and I would get there in time to watch the Sullivan’s with him and Nan, you couldn’t talk until the adverts were on or it finished. He loved that programme. He had a chair outside the back door it was an old office chair, it was brown pvc, he used to sit in it and watch the birds, he befriended a feral cat, he used to feed her, and she began to trust him, then one day he saw some kittens at the bottom of the garden, and started to feed them, in the end he had a family of feral cats following him up and down the garden and they would wait for food.

I never saw or heard of my Nan and Grandad ever arguing, they had been together since they were about 13. Grandad used to go and get healing every week, he and Nan used to do healing too when my Dad and his Brothers and Sister were young. Grandad would help anyone that’s the kind of person he was.

The last time I saw him was when I went to visit him in the London Hospital, he had been taken in on the Monday, (I think he had pleurisy) I was 17 and not long started my first proper job, I took the train up to see him, it was a Wednesday evening, I sat on his bed and he asked me how work was, I told him I was enjoying it, and he said he was pleased, I had a cropped top on, he had a moan about that, said I would catch a cold….typical Grandad, anyway I stayed at the hospital until chucking out time Nan was there too and my Uncle John we were to get a lift from him. The bell went and Nan said Goodbye to Grandad and she would see him next day, so did my Uncle, I gave Grandad a cuddle and kiss and he grabbed my hand so tight, he said take care, and remember that I love you……..I think he new that was the last time he would see me, he did look tired…….on the Thursday evening Dad, Mum, Nan and Uncle John went up to see him, I think Grandads brother was there too, and Grandad had a heart attack whilst they were all there, after that he had a few more, and on the Friday 3rd December he passed away at 4.00pm I will always feel that tight grip on my hand. He was saying goodbye to me. I am grateful for the time I spent with him that night it was very precious.

He was a very kind and gentle, loving man, and he left a big gap in our family.

I wanted to make this memorial site so his family and friends can add their messages for him.

I would like to thank you all for lighting a candle for him and adding your tributes xx

God bless you Granddad xx