I was trying to work out for
myself why Steve stood out so much for me as a young guy growing up.
It wasn’t just for his ‘withering’
looks he would give you when you did or said something he disapproved of.
It wasn’t just the fact he
always had time to ask you about your life, and not just in a pointless “small
talk” way but would question you intently on your goals and decisions and why
you’d made them.
And it wasn’t just if you
were going anywhere with his daughter you spent half the time looking at your
watch to make damn sure she was back on time!
No, it was because there was
something different about Steve for me.
As a lifetime anti
authoritarian (so I’ve been told)
Steve represented the first
figure of authority I think I ever really respected.
He’d brought up 2 beautiful
daughters who as far as we were concerned were Olympic champions at our age.
Achieved unheard of sporting feats in the local newspapers while we were
generally if we managed to complete our homework of an evening.
He had a beautiful home which
he’d worked hard for all his life and always time to discuss how he did it and
ask you how you were going to do it.
…. And it had a piano…. I
mean…. The luxury.
What stood out with Steve for
me (or sir as I always called him) is He treated you like an adult
And before you knew it… you
were acting like one.
I often found myself sitting
up straighter in his presence!
..and keen to tell him what
I’d achieved since we last saw each other.
This was a first for me at
that age.
Here I was this ‘naughty’
child, standing up straight and calling someone sir that I didn’t even have to!
It was unheard of!
Steve’s approval always
seemed to matter to me .
He was a role model in the true sense of the word…and you
couldn’t help thinking if Steve thinks its ok. I can’t be too far off the mark.
Steve lives on the successes
of his wonderful daughters and Grandchldren, and very much in the memories of
this ‘not so young now’ pilot.