David Parr made smart choices in life. Born in Sunderland, his father and grandfather held respected positions in the shipyards, and they imbued in him his sense of duty, loyalty and integrity. He held no airs and graces. If he had lived in Ireland, they would have said he was "sound".

 
Dad could also be "canny": as a boy, the choice was Sunday School or the adrenaline rush of a game of chicken with friend Durrie. They chose the seafront, braving a soaking from storm-force waves crashing in. But not before they had first set foot briefly on the doorstep of the church so they could truthfully say that they did go to Sunday School. In Sunderland, someone likely would see Winnie Parr's boy and word would get back. Dad stayed dry, choosing the exact moment to let go of the sea rail and run for it. He knew he wouldn't have to be the one to explain to his mother why his clothes were wet.

David started at ship’s engine builders George Clark at the age of 15, studied hard at night school, joined Silverline and through grit and brilliance worked his way up to Chief Engineer by the age of 25. As a 22-year-old taking the Silverforce, a new ship out for sea trials and later as Chief repairing the failed engine of another ship without power in a mid-Atlantic storm-swell, dad always got things done. His lifetime love of the sea, paralleled that of Durrie, who he had known from wartime at the age of five and who became a Sea Captain with Clanline. In retirement, dad renewed his vows to the sea often taking holidays on the coasts of Devon. Durrie died just two weeks before dad. I think Men of the Sea never really die … they just slip-away :)

David first met his love, Oonah, a State Registered Nurse in August 1958 in The Jolly Sailor at Whitburn. Breaking the ice, Oonah confessed to David, if her Scots parents knew they were in a pub on Sunday, they would have been appalled! Not deterred by this, David and Oonah married just over a year later!

Dad never shied away from hard decisions. With Oonah and now baby Janet, he quit the life at sea and his talent was sought in Japan to install engines in ships being built by Mitsubishi. His father Billy never understood why his son left England for Japan. Dad left his beloved north-east and never saw his father again, as Billy died when they were in Nagasaki.

Dad was patriotically British, a staunch Wearsider, Sunderland FC supporter - but NEVER, God forbid, to be mistaken for a Geordie! Watching Sunderland beat Leeds 1-0 at Wembley in the 1973 FA cup final left dad and Durrie hoarse.

Dad was pragmatic and a speaker of 'truth to power'. At BOC, his fairness earned him respect and trust from workers and he brought about a resolution to a major industrial dispute in the ‘70’s. He was a natural, practicing Management by Walking Around, listening, and acting. In 1980, the Chairman sent him to Nigeria and in dangerous, violent conditions he fixed the problems over two years, earning the trust and respect of the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.

I have fond memories of my dad & I combing through the rock pools at Seaburn for crabs and starfish, and of him comforting me through nightmares, drawing a magic cowboy's pistol on a postcard, to keep under the pillow to shoot the night monsters … and it worked! Dad was steadfastly present for both me and my sister in good and bad times providing guidance when asked for. He was there for his big brother, Munsen, in his last time of need.

Granddaughter Milly has wonderful memories of Wellplace Zoo, and a holiday in Northumberland, visiting the village of Ford linked to Parr family history, as well as treasured memories of lunch at Cragside. 

David was so proud of his children, and of his grandchildren, Milly and Sebastian. He was delighted by the arrival of his great grandson Ethan, and he would have liked to have stayed just a little longer to welcome his new great granddaughter, but it was not to be.

He loved his cats. Also, an everlasting memory of his daughter-in-law, Cortina, is of dad on a Sunday afternoon, lying on the lawn on his back, a grown man in a fit of giggles, while a 4-pound Yorkshire Terrier puppy pinned him down and licked his face. You may discern from a person’s affinity and empathy with animals a defining sense of what it is to be humane and truly kind within. 

It is a privilege to have caught sight of his softer more vulnerable side - his tears at his mother’s funeral, in recent times when he could no longer walk across the road and when he said with great guttural emotion that he loved Oonah.

David William Parr touched us all in a positive way - as a helpful neighbour, a colleague, father, grandfather, uncle, or husband - we may be thankful to him today. He was generous and loyal, and we are so proud and so fortunate to have had David Parr as father and husband for over 64 years. Dad believed in us, loved us, and we loved him. We appreciate that so many others have not been as blessed as us in that way. He is our hero; our rock, we will miss him, yet he will continue to live with us for the rest of our years.

Rest in Peace David.