His laugh was infectious and his heart was as big as his personality.  He was my Uncle Tom!  Tom was best friends with my Mum and Dad and worked with them at Star Paper.  We used to go and visit Uncle Tom and Angela a lot when we were little.  I have 2 favorite memories of Uncle Tom.  One time when my older brother Mark had a broken arm, we went to visit Uncle Tom and he got the idea that he should dress us both up as if we had been in a car accident.  He put bandages on our heads, arms in slings and of course tomato ketchup to make it more realistic! Not only did he dress us up, he took us into town and we walked around town telling people we had been in a bad accident.  I'm sure the looks on the people's faces sent Uncle Tom into fits of laughter.  Thought I have a feeling the look on my mums face when we told her what Uncle Tom had done was Priceless! Only Uncle Tom! lol

My second memory is when Tom and Angela came and visited us at the Dalmeny Hotel in Lytham Saint Annes.  My grandparents were with us and we went to attend one of the fun events that the hotel would host in the evenings.  I don't remember exactly what the 'game' was, but it involved a hat, dancing, and taking the hat off of other people's heads.  We were all giggling and laughing watching Uncle Tom dance around that dance floor and steal the hat from the other contestants.  Uncle Tom ended up winning that game because he decided to hide the hat in his trousers!  We were all falling about laughing as we watched this silliness unfold!

I will always be grateful that I had an Uncle Tom in my life as I believe everyone should have an Uncle Tom in their life.  I will miss you dearly and will see you again.  I know you are up there making the angles laugh. 

Love always, Jennie (Rutherford) Temple