James Anthony Dainty 'Jimmy' (21 Jan 1954 - 15 Jul 2019)

Miss you so much dad. 💙xxx

I love you dad xx

Whether you knew Jimmy as James, Jim, Jimbob, JD, Super Daint, Dad, Grandad or the latest – GOG, he was truly unique.
Jimmy and I met at a party in 1991. He was quite a complex character who fascinated me and I had an overwhelming desire to try and help him through a difficult period in his life. It wasn’t long before I was completely hooked.
I knew that he already had 4 children so realised that if we were to have future together it had to be the whole package. I also quickly came to realise that football would feature heavily in our lives and was a higher priority than I would ever be. None of this mattered as I was happy to accept Jimmy for who he was, which is a good job as no-one would ever change him.
Jimmy would often recall special moments of his own childhood growing up in Coleshill, his life in Dundalk or magical times with his children, such as taking them to Blackpool, or doing the school run with the music turned up loud and all singing along to the final countdown.
Jimmy’s rules for the kids included – no chewing gum, no saying telly or belly and no leaving the lights or TV on, although he would think nothing of keeping the football on hold for an hour. If he felt that Rachel or Matthew were wasting electric he would often hide the offending items or simply cut the plug off. He would also ‘tut’ anytime that either Katie or Rachel would dare to go near the fridge!
Life with Jimmy was never predictable – expect the unexpected. For example, one morning nothing could prepare me for what I found in the kitchen. Jimmy had written on every cupboard door with marker pen. I was in complete disbelief but decided that there was no point in complaining so instead left a bottle of bleach and scouring pads and hoped for the best. Sure enough, by the time I got home from work it was all gone.
Rachel and I were also shocked when we returned home from a concert one evening as Jimmy had decided to cut his own hair. This had not gone well and resulted in him being permanently banned from the hair trimmer!
Jimmy was not known for being a handyman although he did love a good bonfire but once managed to lose his eyebrows, eye lashes and arm hair by using too much white spirit and sticking his head in the bin when he lit it!
Jimmy loved spending time with his family, particularly taking charge of the BBQ when Westley text him with the hint that the weather was going to be scorchio!! He also loved his weekly football and although would complain if Westley wasn’t playing, Jimmy would take great delight in letting him know just how great he had been in his absence!
Another big part of his life was his bouncy castles. However in the later years this had become Richard’s territory and they would often spending Sunday nights debating who deserved the most money but at least he wasn’t paying you in Happy Meals anymore!
Living with Jimmy and Matthew has been like having 2 teenagers in the house – plenty of banter but both play their music too loud! However Matthew has shared many of the hilarious videos he took of Dad which have kept us smiling over the last few weeks.
Jimmy had his own fashion sense. He loved his concert t-shirts, football shirts and brightly coloured socks. He preferred to use perfume rather than aftershave. He even let Rachel paint is little finger nails pink. He loved his bracelets, which came home from every holiday in Corfu. But most of all he loved his ‘smart but casual shoes’ which he bought on a family holiday to Florida in 2000. He still wore them every day but had glued them many times as they kept falling apart. More recently he had been using black gaffer tape wrapped round the end. When this ran out he then turned to the silver tape colouring it in with marker pen to achieve his look! Needless to say he was not allowed to wear these in public if we were out together!
As you know Jimmy liked the odd drink and was happiest sitting at the kitchen table listening to his music. More often than not I would go off to bed reminding him to keep the music down. However if a favourite song came on the door would be opened, the music turned up loud and the disco ball would appear. If I asked him what he was doing he would simply say ‘have you listened to the words in this one – I wanted to share it with you’. If he thought better of waking me he would turn to his phone and start calling or texting other family or friends –they soon learned to put their phones on silent!
Of course the most special family day was our surprise wedding. It was the year of Jimmy's 60th birthday and he had a fear that the kids would try to surprise him. Instead we agreed to turn the tables and arranged the whole things within 3 weeks. We invited the kids, Jimmy's mum and Dad, Audrey and John and my mum Gill for a birthday meal. While they were all in the bar we disappeared into another room and when they came in, there we stood at the front with the registrar. They were all totally shocked when they realised what was going on– particularly Janine who forgot that she was in charge of a pushchair and drove it straight into us in floods of tears trying to get to her dad to give him a hug and a kiss. The formalities were followed by one of our infamous kitchen parties which went on into the small hours.
Jimmy had many catch phrases that will always be remembered – if we drove past a football pitch it was always I’ve played there, or done a bouncy castle there. Have you cleaned your teeth today? I’ve seen Elvis live. Arsenal. Outrageous. And of course, you will miss me when I have gone. Well we do miss you but our memories will be with us forever, especially when I look into the faces of your children, and you will always have a special place in our hearts. God bless you Jimbob xxx

I’m so sorry you’re gone Uncle Jimmy. It’s been a month since you passed and I still can’t believe it’s real. When people die at a “ripe old age” you’re sad but more accepting of it because they had a good innings. Your departure has left us shell shocked and heartbroken as you left us far too soon.

I’ll always remember your dry sense of humour and your generosity. You always made me laugh and you always took an interest. I kinda wish you hadn’t shown me the Thriller video when I was 5 (don’t think mum and dad thanked you for that either and all the sleepless nights that followed) but I remember how enthusiastic you were about that work of particular genius! Your passion for (great) music was infectious (no one could touch your CDs!!!) and of course your footballing talents made history for those who followed your teams.

We’re really going to miss you. What a gap in our lives you’ve left. I’ll never have a glass of JD without thinking of you. I’ll never listen to David Bowie without thinking of you (and that’s always been the case). I struggle to reflect on so many childhood memories I have without you in them. I’m so sorry you’re not here anymore. I’m so sorry you left us so soon. I’m heartbroken for your wife and children and gutted I won’t see that mischievous cheeky smile again. I love you. Look after us from heaven won’t you xxxx

“JD” The Legend


“Jim Bob”, “Jimmy”, “JD” or “Jim whatever name you knew
One of the most loyal friends you could have, and this we know to be true
For what can we say about “Our Jim” that hasn’t already been said
A devoted family man, Football Legend and definitely the “last man to bed”

For over 30 years he’s played a huge part in my life
Even friends before he married our “Len” my best friend, - his devoted wife
Goods times, bad times, fun times - we’ve shared so much throughout those years
We’ve had so many laughs together, and more recently cried some tears

Been around for such a long time I’ve watched the family expand and grow
Always at the forefront – they were his world, and this he liked to show
He loved each and every one of them in his own special unique way
He left a legacy of love that’s for sure that will last forever, and a day

Children, grandchildren and wife – he was always so very proud
Brother, uncle and friend to loads, even strangers in a crowd
He always had a story to tell, and offered words of advice
Those that knew him loved him so much, though this sometimes came at a price

His strange little ways and unique character will be remembered so often
His knack of coming across so righteous, and then he would always soften
The way he talked in riddles, that often no one understood
His special way of caring when no other person could
His quirky little issues, like his disgust of chewing gum
His funny antics when on hols, like kissing someone’s bum

His love of women’s perfume for that is what he always wore
He’d remind you of that fact “spraying” you going out the door
Ysatis, Organza & Coco to name but just a few
Years ago it was his favourite, Estee Lauders parfum – the old “Youth Dew”

Music was his great love and one of his real passions
Arguably the biggest fan of Bowie from “Starman” through to “Fashion”
The Beatles, Whitney, and Luther – his choice of music was so vast
The words, the songs he cherished - oh how those memories will last

A devoted fan of Elvis he would remind you without fail
That he’d seen “Elvis” live you know, all be it to no avail
So many Kitchen parties, Dancing, Disco light and “The Broom”
He never looked happier than surrounded in that room

Sat at the head of the table, checked shirt on, drink in hand
Listening to yet another song from one of his favourite bands
Arm wrestling, or chatting and putting the world to rights
Memories we will treasure, these were always the best of nights !

We’ve lost count of how many times at our house we’ve had to throw him out
Along with brandy glass & ice bucket in hand but never would he shout
Instead he would just waffle on, and we’d choose to ignore
All the time he was trying to get back in, another foot in the door
C’mon Jim it’s time to go we’d have to politely say
Pushing him practically out of the house as night turned into day

Text messages in the early hours were another of his traits
Random messages that made no sense, & for answers you would wait
The way he’d always “point the finger” driving down the street
No words, just the acknowledgement – a “JD” friendly greet
Often he would gesture the “Peace sign” for all to see
Another reminder of the man we loved the character that was JD

Dundalk was a big part of his life & football his beloved game
West Bromwich and Walsall, not to be forgotten added to his earlier fame
Such an amazing player we were reminded of his younger days
He always told the stories, and never ever forgot those ways
An extremely talented footballer even though most of us were just told
His football was his passion and the stories did unfold
Still a man in training he always, always loved the sport
He never would stop playing, never gave it a second thought !

He liked to get his wear out of all the clothes he wore
Football T-shirt, concert shirts, his Bowie top the most worn of all
But not quite as long lasting as the shoes of 19 years
Black tape held them together through all the wears and tears
There’s plenty more left in them you could almost here him say
As he wrapped more tape around them so they’d last another day

His arm was quite something else, covered for all to see
By friendship bracelets and some string – the “Legend” that is “JD”
They all had some special meaning and this was part of him
All these things combined, made the man we loved “our Jim”

Random nights and BBQs were always his idea of fun
Never happier than spending time with family, and soaking up the sun
Memories from holidays many years ago
Jimmy with the dogfish in Woolacombe, not wanting to let it go
Funny nights in Belgium, up and down in the same lift
If he’d have stayed in there much longer he could have done the porters shift !

A surprise weekend in Liverpool is another one to recall
Good times in the Cavern watching John, George, Ringo and Paul
Holiday times in Roda, his most favourite place to be
Well known to everyone there – another family for our JD !

“JD” you are such a legend and will always hold a special place in our hearts
It’s still surreal and we can’t believe how quickly you did depart
We know you will be looking down and having the party of your life
You have left such a void though we miss you, as do your family, friends and wife
Every day we promise we will try not to be sad
I’m glad that you were in my life and of all the fun memories we had
Goodbye is not an option, goodbyes are not the end
Until we meet again someday my very special friend
Love you xx

My King The Only Man That Has Ever Loved Me I Love You Dad And I Will See You One Day I Know Your Waiting!! LOVE YOU ALWAYS POPSICAL ❤❤❤❤