I’m sure all of you here have your own stories to tell of their encounters and adventures with our dad. A man who was never short of a good story himself. Just short in general. Something which comes as standard if you happen to be a Birch.

And it’s dads ability to tell a good story that I have perhaps some of my fondest memories of him. As children it was a rare occasion that dad would read Amy and I a bedtime story. But a trick we soon learned was to get dad to read us one his favourites from his own childhood. He would dust off his old copies of Wind and the Willows, The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings, and read chapter after chapter until he either felt he had read enough for one day, or Amy and I fell asleep.

But what made those bedtime stories so magical was how he was able to embody those fantastical characters. Giving each a unique voice and a personality far beyond the words on the page. Of course you could argue that it wasn’t much of a stretch of the imagination for dad to breath life to Mr Toad, Ratty, Bilbo and Gandalf. If you were to create a venn diagram of those characters, I’m pretty sure dad would be at the centre.

Of course all great stories must come to an end and so my dad’s ends here. But great stories also stay in our thoughts and memories long after the turning of the final page.

I’d like, if I may, to read a quote from Lord of the Rings. For any Tolkien scholars amongst you, this is actually taken from the film adaption rather than the books, but was something that dad and I enjoyed and shared a passion for.

“I didn't think it would end this way.” Said Pippin solemnly.

“End?” said Gandalf. “No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path... one that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass... And then you see it.”

“What? See what, Gandalf?" Said Pippin excitedly.

“White shores... and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise.”

“Well, that isn't so bad.” Said Pippin smiling

“No”.. replied Gandalf softly. “No it isn’t.”

Good night dad and sleep well.