The week before Christmas 2011 Dad took part in a very special Aikido grading with his lifelong friend and Sensei Colin Pike and the rest of the Ffeonix Aikido Club. By the end of the gruelling but fulfilling day Dad had been awarded black belt 3rd dan status, of which he was immensely proud. Dad was flying around the mat all day and it is still hard to believe that his health deteriorated so quickly after this. Even at the very end of his life my Dad had a grip like iron and I will always be proud of his physical and mental strength. I just hope we can be as strong.