Our dad Joseph Gladstone McLaggan - known as Derek to his friends and family - was born on the second of April 1937 in Jones Town, Kingston, Jamaica. He made a lifelong friend there, Albert Forbes (who is here today), who we all know as 'Benbow', named after the street where our dad was born and they were both raised. For years growing up as kids we thought my dad was born in Cuba, in fact, one of my brothers still thought he was born there up until a few years ago.
After he finished school he took up a trade as a cabinet maker. A trade that he continued to use throughout his life. He made all the wardrobes in our house, our mum could never get enough wardrobe space. I remember him making me a lovely dollhouse with all the furniture. It was something that I loved and never wanted to get rid of.
He came to England when he was 19 in 1958. He got a job working in a factory, but it wasn't the type of job he wanted for himself, as a result, shortly after, in 1959, he started working for London Transport on the underground he managed to work his way up over the years and became a ticket inspector a job he was proud of and left his factory job. London Transport changed the name of his job from Ticket Inspector to Revenue Protection Officer a job my dad took very seriously and literally a bit too seriously. It was like he was protecting his own revenue and not London Transport's. He would get into arguments with fare dodgers, and unfortunately for him, one or two confrontations turned physical, but likely he was always able to defend himself. To our Dad, this was all in a day's work along was going to Court and writing statements in relation to those who dodged their fares.
He took up a second job working nights as a baker, when we were growing up we remember him bringing home some lovely cakes and buns.
In 1964, he met our mum Monica Daley at a party; I know he was really taken by her looks as she was stunning and he was equally very handsome. They married soon after and started married life in and around Harlesden and Willesden. They have now been married for 49 years and celebrated their anniversary in March. A couple of years later, they moved to a house in Wembley, where they continue to live. They raised seven children and helped to raise their 10 grandchildren.
My dad really enjoyed family life and was a great father. When we were young, he used to make ice cream for all the kids on the street, our childhood friends here today can testify that we loved it, but looking back it it was just flavoured ice. He was like the patriarch of the street, and always helped out when he could if anyone on the street was in trouble.
He used to make lots of beer and wine and as children, we often went blackberry picking for him. He made beer from potato skins. Needless to say, it was rarely drunk. As a result, we can remember all the bottles lined up in the house.
He continued to work for London Transport for 33 years and 10 months until his retirement in 1992. After his retirement, he had more time to spend with his family and more time to watch Jerry Springer and Judge Judy.
His first grandchild, Joshua, was born in 1991, and he was hands-on in raising him. Joshua would spend nights at our family home and had his cot placed firmly in our parents' bedroom. Nine more grandchildren followed, and as they grew, he would pick his three grandchildren from school and nursery in Watford, which he did for nine years.
He was a lovely grandfather to his grandson Elijah and really enjoyed spending time with him.
Dad was very frugal. He never liked to spend a lot of money on anything. When my brothers and sisters or I told him how much something that we bought cost, like a pair of shoes or an item of clothing, he always said that we could buy five of what we had for that money! Then he would bring out the cheapest pair of trainers that he paid £5 for.
He was always losing things. He would ask us children, or my Mum, where such and such was, a hammer or chisel, and then when we replied "No, where did you see, or use, it last?", his reply was always "the other day". When we asked him when the other day was, it was always something like three years ago.
Dad became a Jehovah's Witness in the mid-1990s and was baptised in 2005. We know from speaking to his Witness brothers and sisters that they were very fond of him and well-liked, and he was an active member of the congregation.
His children and his grandchildren are his legacy, and he will live on through us.
Rest in peace Dad, we all love you. |
Thrale history
1937 - 2016 (79 years)
Eulogy from his children
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