RHYS BOWEN: We have never celebrated Father's Day. John, that least sentimental of men, declared it a made-up holiday to cash in commercially. It was not celebrated in England when I was growing up. If it had been, I'd certainly have feted my father. Frank Newcombe Lee was the loveliest of men. Kind, gentle and caring. He was a big softie. When my brother and I were fighting he'd say, "Don't make me take this belt to you!: Actually he never struck either of us but we were still afraid of the threat.
Example of being a big softie: When I was in college I was going to Germany for my friend's wedding and asked for my ticket as a Christmas present. My only present as it was expensive. But transistor radios had just been invented (I know. I'm that old) and I coveted one. i certainly hadn't asked for one. My parents had limited funds and two kids in private school and college. So I was surprised, as I went through my Christmas stocking, to find a battery. What on earth could I need a battery for, I wondered. Then hope glimmered. Surely it couldn't be.... and it was. Right at the bottom, my transistor radio. That was my dad who not only picked up that I really wanted one, but went out and bought it.
He adored my mother and would do anything for her. Every Christmas he'd ask me to buy four pairs of nylon stockings to put on the tree as her little extra present. One Christmas he slipped a gold Swiss watch in between them.
He ran a paper factory. One of his workers, the stoker, Old Vic, got lung cancer and was in hospital. Daddy visited him every evening on his way home.
And I have an interesting story about that factory. It was small, in the middle of Kent. it made tissues, paper napkins, spiral bound notebooks (the first to do so). Last Christmas I was hunting for crackers ( the type you pull with a present inside).I had searched all over with no success My agent tipped me off to T J Maxx. I went there and found these beautiful large crackers. As I walked to the cash desk with them I studied them and nearly dropped them in a state of shock. Imported by the Swan Mill paper company. My dad's factory. the small factory in the middle of Kent and here I am in the middle of California. I got chills. It felt as if my dad had found these for me.
Do you have any special dad memories?
