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ian armitage

ian armitage

The only vaguely positive thing about someone's passing is that you instinctively allow yourself to think about that person and invariably it brings a smile to your face as you remember them. I have many memories of Gordon, he was always the cool uncle with his love of technology and nice things, very different to his brother (my father) ! I remember helping with his horse racing prediction program, entering all the details from the sporting life for every horse hoping against hope that we'd get a recommendation for a bet and when we didn't (computer says no bet) he'd shrug and give a little chuckle about the time lost and say maybe it was for the best. He had a red, white and black BBC computer, complete with original floppy disks long before anyone else had one. I was mesmerised! I remember him taking me to Wheldon Road to try and convert me to Castleford, even though I was Leeds. He'd admonish my lack of belief in my 'roots' with a little glint in his eye. I remember his love of Tennis and him playing at Savile park with his flowing hair, cap and extravagant moustache. I watched often and he encouraged me to play when possible. I remember Kerry the slobbery dog and us all going to Mamma Mia in Pontefract for a farewell meal shortly before Australia happened. I remember my dad going out to visit (between heart attacks!) and coming back absolutely gushing over the entire experience, which wasn't at all what I expected! I think ultimately my admiration for him peaked with his decision to emigrate back in the 90's (despite Helen crying all over me at the airport!). The 3 L's were too little to really understand back then but I'm sure now they realise what a gift it was that he made a tremendously brave decision to move to Oz. A man with the courage of his convictions, a good man, my uncle. God bless. Ian

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