Good Morning! Can you all hear me? Thank you all for coming here today.
I want to tell you a bit about MY DAD - JIM SEDDON
I have to say that I am biased because I am a daddy’s girl. Sorry Mum. My dad was such an important person in my life. He was not just a loving father and husband to my mum for 55 years, he was a teacher, a mentor and a hero in my eyes. I got a shock one day when I went to see him years ago to find him crying because he was out of work and he felt that he couldn’t support his family. He was totally devoted to us - my mum and I. I could not have wished for a better father. From insisting on giving everybody a lift home from my birthday parties as a child (often to the shout of “Home James”) to the instant response to an unsociable hours call of “Dad I can’t get a taxi can you pick me up from town? Pleeease.” or maybe it was the Coconut Grove in Tuebrook.
He must have been respected in his work too as I believe we have some of his former colleagues here with us today.
I believe his first job was in the Customs & Excise and he then went on to work at Aintree Containerbase working his way up to be the Operations Manager.
While he was working at Aintree Containerbase he successfully applied for a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowship. This funded a trip abroad to study how work was done in other container ports around the world. He went to Hong Kong, Rotterdam and Japan. The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust is still going today and my dad would want to inspire more people to apply – it is a wonderful opportunity.
My dad particularly enjoyed Hong Kong and went back there some years later, this time with my mum for their 25th Wedding Anniversary which also included some time in Honolulu and Los Angeles.
During this period he was also recommended, by his boss, to be a JP, a Justice of the Peace, which he carried on for some years at the Liverpool Magistrates Courts. I would like to think that he was firm but fair.
After a period of unemployment he decided to have a go at being a financial advisor working for Teachers Assurance. During this time his contacts were useful in helping me get a new job. Thanks Dad.
Although my mum and dad enjoyed holidays abroad occasionally, they really loved going to the Isle of Man for the bowls competitions in June and September. When going to the IOM it was very important to ensure that they could fit everything in the case - the bowls, the clothes (including waterproofs of course) but, most importantly, the bottles of whiskey.
I love my dad dearly and valued his advice but we didn’t always see eye-to-eye.
Firstly, he was an Evertonian. Let’s say no more about that!
Secondly, he wasn’t always easy to please. Take the time when I was in the 6th Form at school. I was only in the first term but I wasn’t sure it was for me and had successfully applied for a job in the pathology labs at Fazakerley Hospital. He said … that I should be staying at school and going to university. Anyway he phoned up the labs and got an appointment with the boss. He got shown round and found out that I would still be doing some studies on a day-release basis. So he said it was ok.
Then nine and half years later when there were not many opportunities for progression and having studied accounts at night school I decided to pack in my job and return to full time education … was he happy? No, he said I should be happy that I had a job!
I remember when I started suffering with asthma. We didn’t know that it was asthma at the time but I was struggling with my breathing of a night time. Dad’s recommendation was this … I’m sure that most of you will recognise the distinctive packaging, a blue pot with a green top. Vicks Vapour Rub. He swore by it – rub it on your chest or stick it up your nose – a panacea for all ailments. However it didn’t do anything for my asthma. In more recent times he seemed to change allegiances and began to favour this – Vaseline. If he had an itch or a bit of soreness he would reach for the Vaseline and slap it on. And Yes gentlemen, even there.
He had struggled with Parkinsons for some time – about 10 or 11 years. In the last couple of years he had developed dementia too. I would appreciate it if you could make a donation to Parkinsons UK in his memory to help future suffers of this terrible disease.
Before the Parkinsons started he was still young at heart and throughout adulthood I’ve seen him climb trees and lampposts, and have a laugh and a joke, like you’d expect that cheeky-looking boy to get up to (picture on the inside back cover of the order of service). He loved a party and in their 32 years in Litherland Park they hosted a few. He was always ready to waltz or boogie the night away and loved it when the wider family gathered together. It was such a shame to see what the illness did to him. The picture on the front is the way I want to remember him – enjoying his bowls, laughing and winning all the way.
Unfortunately his brother John died only 7 weeks before he did. I hope he is now reunited with all his siblings – Bill, John, and Anne as well as half-sisters Fran and Josie.
Rest in peace now Dad. I’ll miss you loads.
Jane x