My Uncle was a Hunkle ~ William Sherlock 193? ~ 2021

Was talking to my Uncle Bill a few years ago ... we were talking about my Grandfather Wilf Sherlock ... who adopted him ... he was a cousin from another branch of the family

They fought all the time ... & Bill didn’t appreciate what he’d done... Raising a difficult boy that wasn’t his

But Bill really fucking loved him.  Wouldn’t let me go to his funeral ... Was 1976 ... I was 8 & had travelled from Edinburgh to Liverpool. A journey I made many times.  He apologised to me for that during one of our epic drinking sessions. John Smith’s for him, Guinness for me.  He also said to me ‘... you know I'm not your real Uncle?’ 

I knew. Ian had informed me on Slapton Sands when I was 10 

I said to Bill ‘... you were always my real Uncle... especially since you parked a big fuck off Shell petrol tanker outside our dull suburban home’ 

I loved Uncle Bill ... he was my only Uncle ... Ian stole my Lego & Uncle John.  Uncle Rich in Southampton was a champagne socialist with an Alfa

Uncle Bill took me to Anfield... Uncle John takes me now.  He’s got a Jag & posh season tickets... same view of the same game... but you get a free hot dog 

Iain Muir ... by Jonathan Campbell Muir

In writing this I realised there are missing pieces to this jigsaw, questions I need to ask my father. What did it feel like to arrive in London at the tender age of 21? Wasn’t he scared? 

Of course I can never ask those questions now... but what I do have is an example of a man who would strive all his life to do the right thing when it came to family, to work, to everything really. My father set an example that made a mark on the lives of many, many people ~ the proof of it is everywhere. 

For me he has left behind footprints in which I walk

... & will continue to walk 

Thank you for coming today to celebrate my father’s life