Message from Cynthia Delieb

Coming in later than most of the other writers, I am able to savour what they have written, and fill in a gap or two.

His technical skills – self-taught -were brilliant, and my mother, his sister Ray, told me he constructed his own crystal set (early wireless, predecessor of radio) at the age of about 10. He also did most of the work in installing the central heating in Rowsley Avenue, only calling a plumber for the final touches. Until their innards became too complicated and inaccessible, he maintained his own cars.

In the last year or so of his life, he would spend an extended Shabbat with one or other of his children, and even one fortunate granddaughter. Jacqui would let me know when he was visiting her, and I would come round in the late afternoon and spend an hour or so with him, probably more uninterrupted quality time than I had had for years. We would discuss any and everything, and he was able to extend my family lore.

One feature that hasn’t been touched on much by other contributors was his generosity. I remember remarking that I had read that someone wise had said that we should spend the first half of our life making money, and the second half giving it away. His immediate riposte was “I’m doing my best”.

And that was him – doing his best quietly at all times.

We have all lost a jewel with his passing.