Happy Father’s Day

​

Dan Ashcroft

Although most of the stuff dad taught us were quotes from Pulp Fiction and The Big Lebowski, one lesson he always did encourage us with was to treat everybody with humility and respect. He also taught us to spend as much time as possible outdoors as a family, going for regular walks which we all hated at the time but we love to do ourselves now.

​

Dan Fowler

I have learned loads from my Dad about life in general but I think the one thing that he has influenced me in most as a parent was that laughter heals all. I always remember my Dad being the funniest person I know and always being the one to get me out of any moods.

​

James Clayton

My father has always led from the front and shown me the way of the world (rights and wrongs). I feel blessed that he was able to provide a roof over my head and food on the table. He has always been there to offer encouragement in my own life and advice from his past experiences. I’m excited to be a role model for my own children where I can provide for them, like my father did for me.

​

James de Ste Croix

I’m lucky enough that my father is still alive, so I’m still learning from him to this day.I learnt many things from him that I try to instil in my girls. These include honesty, integrity, hard work and the value of money, to name a few.

But I also remember things that I try not to replicate – being so strict that you push your kids away, losing your rag at the smallest thing, not supporting your kids’ extra-curricular activities, and so on.

After all is said and done, Dad and I are now genuinely friends more than just father and son, and I love spending time with him. If I turn out to be half the man he is, achieve half of what he has, and set my family up for adult life as well as he did, I’ll be a happy man! Thanks Dad.

​

Robert Bowyer

My father ran his own Marketing and PR business, so from a very early age I was aware of the need to hit weekly/monthly targets. He did this whilst bringing up three children, managing through some very difficult economic times in the 1970s and 80s. Looking back now, that inbred desire to succeed, pivot where necessary and make difficult decisions must have been so very stressful. But to my brothers and I, however hard he might have been paddling, he made it all look so serene!

In short, he managed to run his own business, navigate choppy waters and put food on the table, but above all else he always found time to be there for the three of us.

So, my message to all the younger parents is: cherish every moment; they soon grow up and in some cases, they become taller than you! Charlotte and Alexander are now twenty-one and nineteen respectively, I can safely say those years have absolutely flown by. Parenting is such a gift, one I can safely say has brought me the most amount of joy, however testing some periods can be! Happy Father’s Day.

​

Simon Gregory

My Step Dad taught me to always listen and consider both sides, never say no to something fun, no matter what time it is! And always follow what you’re passionate about.

​

Tom Brown

I’ve learned so much from my Dad over the years. I think the most important thing he has taught me would be that Fatherhood should be fun. Yes, it is hard at times, daunting even, but it should be and can be fun. I try to have fun with my girls as much as I can; I’m not perfect and I do slip up sometimes, but if I can make things fun then everything seems to be easier.