Colin Winter (17 Nov 1933 - 5 Jan 2021)

In loving memory of Colin Winter who sadly passed away on 5th January 2021

What can we say?
Colin, our Dad, Grandad and Great Grandad. You were a legend and have left us with great expectations to live up to.
Dad, you were one of the best. Kind, generous, loving, a shoulder to cry on and full of good advice when we needed it. But you never took sides.
You were loved by many, not only in our family circle but outside of it too. We as a family have had so many comments describing you as one of the best. A true gentleman.
You were privileged to see your Grandchildren grow up into successful adults and bring their own children into the world. Unfortunately, it is with great sadness that you didn’t get to meet Lewis and Amy’s first child. But no doubt you will be looking down on them when Baby Ako arrives and wishing them all the best.
Our memories of you are only full of good ones. You spent your working life on the river, from the age of 14 until retirement, mostly keeping down two jobs and because of this, Mum and us three children always had the best of everything. For all your hard work, we are truly grateful.
We know you loved to have a laugh and a joke at work. There are two stories that stick in our minds. The first being, it was a nice hot sunny afternoon. You had a brilliant idea. Let’s make ski’s out of planks of wood you thought. We can attach them to the barges and we can go skiing down the Thames. Yep it was a success and you all had a great afternoon. That all changed though when you were called into the office. All we can say is, good job all the health and safety rules weren’t around then. The other one was that your crewmates loved your cooking so you always got the job of cooking on every shift. Unfortunately for them, little did they know, whilst tucking into their tasty stew, they would come across a pigs eye or pigs trotter. Oh yes you loved a joke!

When you were younger, you were known as the best dressed guy in town and always had the best suits money could buy. You were always very proud of your appearance, even to sit in the garden. You never liked a hair out of place or an unshaven face.
You loved your motorbikes in your younger day and once again you always had to have the best (I wonder where Anthony gets his obsession from). We had fantastic holidays every year camping with all the family. They were the good old days with lots of good memories for us to treasure forever. Two weeks of fun and laughter from start to finish, even if it did rain for most of the time.
You and Mum ran the Co-Op club for many years. You managed to raise a lot of money for local charities. Everyone remembers the blow egg nights across the snooker tables. Whatever you and mum turned your hands to was always a success.
The Navy Club, you managed to turn around and you were both loved and appreciated by so many that used it.
You both enjoyed a rum or two or three… and I think the con club will definitely see their profits reduce dramatically when they are allowed to open and your chair will be forever empty in your memory.
This year has been very different and challenging for everybody. We were unable to kiss or even give you a cuddle. You missed Lewis and Amy’s wedding, the first of your Grandchildren to get married. For us your life has ended too soon but we all know you missed your soulmate when mum passed away five years ago. Life had never been the same for you and we hope you found each other again and are both guiding us in the right direction. We as a family hope we have made you both proud as we were with you.
Whenever you text us or gave us a gift, you always signed off with a little snowman. That all changed after Dolcie gave you a new name of Grandad Penguin (because of the way you shuffled along).
So here’s to you Snowman and Grandad Penguin. May you be resting in peace with Mum again. As you said in your closing speech at your retirement, you’ve had a great life and the best bits were the company and people you shared it with. If you had your time again, you wouldn’t change a thing.
We will all raise a glass, or two or three for you both later.

Love you forever.

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