My grandfather was a constant presence when me and Daisy, my sister, were growing up, so I have too many memories of him to mention here. However, I can say his unfailing support and attention unifies them all. I have a lot of friends far less fortunate than me; growing up without the love of dependable parents, let alone the love of a dependable grandparent. I'm so lucky to have had--and continue to have--the love of both, and in such abundance. Whether he was coming to pick us up from school, sharing his wisdom during a REAL chat at the back of a social gathering, or so generously taking me and Daisy for a short sojourn to Ireland or France, he took us both under his considerable wing and helped us grow, imparting those special Goulding qualities--humour, integrity, humility--that he gifted to all his family. Not least to David, his son and my father, whose example I embody.
When I was very young, I remember how excited I would get when my Grandad was on his way, in whatever capacity. As I grew older, the excitement at his arrival was tempered with a kind of respect; I came to understand some of his complexities, no longer just "grandad," but more than that. I learnt of his background, his career, his beliefs, and he became, not only a guardian and confidante--second only to my parents in that respect--but a source of learning and insight, a man who had lived a life without compromise, and was steeped in a unique wisdom because of it. He provided me with a well of learning, something I can always reach for in testing times, such as these, and it's something I'll pass down to my own grandchildren, perhaps, one day. And that was Grandad's special kind of love. A love for knowledge, a good song, a good joke, a good opinion. A love you never doubted. Not necessarily the most expressive kind, but a love he was fearless with, most of all for his friends and family. And that's Grandad's gift to us all.
Josh Goulding:
18/04/2020
