My Dad

I got my story in a magazine; it was about my dad, George Hurst. He was the best dad in the world. He loved his family and raised his children while my mum was always ill with her nerves. He cooked, cleaned, and worked down the coal mine. My dad was like me: always happy and helping others, but usually taken for granted, too.

He used to come home from the pit and never moaned, even though we all knew he probably experienced a bad day. We used to watch wrestling on the telly. Big Daddy was my favorite wrestler. Dad loved tag teams.

I know sometimes I was disobedient and set out to annoy. I wrote out my story for the magazine just to, in a way, say sorry his life was so challenging. I wanted to get my dad recognized out there on the web. His name was George Hurst, born in 1919 in Ashton in Makerfield near Wigan. He worked at Bold Pit near home. My dad was a twin to Aunty Ellen (Nelly); they were like two naughty kids when together.

Dad died of pit disease and lung cancer in July 1988; he was my best friend. I loved him more than life. When I was little, I used to sit up for hours at night, repeating over and over, "God, please don’t ever let my dad die." When I got married and moved out, he would walk or get the bus to my house and stay with me if it was thundering. Dad knew I was terrified of thunder and lightning. We had little money, no big house, just a rented terraced house. No car or telephone, yet we were rich in the love my dad held in his heart for his family.

It was pure gold, my dad's heart. In this life if you have good parents to guide you, you can go far. My dad was my best friend my hero and my life. There was only one regret in my life that was I didn’t have him long enough. I have a brother John, and a sister Dorothy he loved us equally and we loved him all three of us so much. Even his grandchildren had a very special bond with him. His heart was so big there was room for everyone his life

Two of his grandchildren are now with him and mam in heaven. My sisters daughter Andrea, and her Son Kevin. Both of them taken far too early with Cancer. I know they are all together, probably watching over us all here. My brother in law jimmy, Andrea and Kevin’s dad also passed with Cancer in 2022. I always thought of him as my second dad he was a good man. He and my sister brought me up with my dad. My mam was always ill and he was a excellent husband. He had a hard life but he just got on with it. He had no time for moaning. I talk to his photo sometimes. I loved my mam but can’t understand how she just could not fight the depression. His life would have been so much better if she had

So I sent my dad's story to this magazine, and they published it, photos and all. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world; I was in a dream I got some recognition for my dad at last. I got my dad's name out there on the internet. I still cry for my dad and talk to him. I was born lucky to have him as my dad. Rest in peace always, Dad. xxxxx