What You’ll Receive: An Example of Our Free Tribute Suggestions

EXAMPLE TRIBUTE SUBMISSION

My dad was always fixing things. Radios, bikes, even the toaster, though sometimes he made it worse than before. I remember once when I was little, he tried to fix my doll’s arm with superglue and glued his fingers together instead. Mum laughed so much she nearly dropped her cup of tea. That’s one of my funniest memories.

He was born in 1958 in Newcastle. Youngest of four brothers. Grew up in a terrace house with not much, but they made the most of it. He always said they had “bread and dripping and enough mischief to last a lifetime.”

Dad worked as a mechanic most of his life. The garage on Pritchard Lane, he loved that place. I remember going there after school and the smell of oil and the old radio playing all the time.

My brother’s wedding when he danced to ABBA. That was funny. He had no rhythm but danced anyway, arms everywhere, not caring who watched.

He didn’t say much about his feelings. But he showed them. The way he’d bring me a hot water bottle without asking, or fix the garden fence when it didn’t really need fixing.

He passed away last month, far too soon. Still doesn’t feel real, honestly.

We used to go fishing early mornings. He’d sit with his flask and barely talk for hours, just happy to be there. I hated the worms, but I went anyway.

He loved us, even if he wasn’t good at saying it.

The dog got into the bin again on Tuesday.

So thank you, Dad. For being steady, for being ours. I hope I said thank you enough.

Thank you for sharing these memories of your dad. What comes through immediately is a man who showed his love through the little things he did, rather than the words he said.

There’s real warmth and personality in your writing. The story about the doll’s arm made us smile, while the hot water bottle and those quiet fishing mornings reveal a gentler side of him.

You already have the makings of a lovely, personal tribute. Our suggestions are simply about helping these memories sit together more naturally, without losing your own voice.

One of the strongest things about your tribute is how your dad showed his love through everyday actions.

You mention the hot water bottle, fixing the garden fence and sitting together while fishing. These memories could work beautifully together, helping everyone understand the kind of father he was.

You might introduce them with a simple thought such as:

“Dad wasn't someone who talked much about his feelings. He had his own ways of showing us how much we mattered.”

That gives these lovely little memories a common thread.

The story about your dad accidentally gluing his fingers together is wonderful. It's funny, affectionate and gives us an immediate picture of him.

I'd certainly keep it, along with the memory of his enthusiastic ABBA dancing!

You could consider bringing these moments a little closer together, perhaps after introducing his love of fixing things. That would give your tribute a lovely touch of humour before moving into the quieter, more emotional memories.

There's no need to make the stories more elaborate. Their simplicity is part of their charm.

Your closing words — “Thank you, Dad. For being steady, for being ours” — are particularly touching. I'd be inclined to keep them.

One thing you might reconsider is the line about the dog getting into the bin on Tuesday. It's an intriguing detail, but at the moment it feels a little disconnected from everything around it.

If there's a memory of your dad behind it, perhaps explain that connection. Otherwise, you could leave it out and move directly from “He loved us, even if he wasn't good at saying it” into your final thank-you.

That would allow your ending to feel especially heartfelt.