Sunday 20 July 2014

Derek Charles Sadler 1926 - 2014

My father died on Friday.  I should be extremely sad, but I'm not.  He went the way he would have wanted, although I'm sure he felt he had a good 5 years in hand.  He spent the last week of his life doing the thing he loved most; paragliding.   There aren't many folk, well on their way to 90, who can take off from a Dorset cliff and fly like the birds he so admired.  He wasn't a religious man and his aim was to come back in the next life as a buzzard.  He had two reasons for this:
1. So he could spend his whole time following the thermals that keep the birds effortlessly flying.
2. So he could shit on the people he didn't like. (His words not mine).

He was not the sort of man who could have put up with a long drawn-out terminal illness so a heart attack in his chair at home on Friday was the best  way he could go.

If you are holidaying in Dorset,  watch out for any low flying buzzards with a gleam in their eye. Especially if you are a speed cop, politician or traffic warden.
My father and my Aunty Joy with their mother, Winifred c. 1927




Dad's visit to The Turkish Bakery

Dad's beetroot and apple bread recipe



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42 comments:

  1. Kathy20 July 2014 at 21:36

    I'm so sorry you no longer have your Dad, Annie, but what a perfect way for a man of his age to spend the last week of his life and then leave it. He sounds like a remarkable man.

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  2. Maryhocam20 July 2014 at 21:46

    Annie i am so sorry you lost your Dad. However I agree, the manner of his going was wonderful for him. My Mum is 88 and fighting fit. She doesn't worry about "going" but does the manner of it. I laughed out loud at his second reason for wanting g to come back as a buzzard. He seems to have been quite a character.

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    1. BacktoBodrum21 July 2014 at 17:20

      I our Mums can meet up in Bodrum the next time your is over.

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  3. Helen Devries20 July 2014 at 21:49

    I am sorry you have lost your father....but what a man!

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    1. BacktoBodrum21 July 2014 at 17:22

      He was a spped freak. I remember my brother and I having to keep a look out for speed cops as he sped down motorways. .No wonder I was car sick

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  4. Idskesminis20 July 2014 at 22:39

    What a sense of humour and so wonderful that he didn't have to suffer an all too common slow decline. He sounds like he didn't suffer fools gladly!

    I'll be sure to keep an eye out for buzzards, you never know!

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    1. BacktoBodrum21 July 2014 at 17:23

      I think you'll be safe from buzzards, unless you go into politics.

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  5. Anonymous20 July 2014 at 22:54

    Condolences. And well done for him being able to do what he loved right up to the end.

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    1. BacktoBodrum21 July 2014 at 17:24

      We should all aim to keep biking, driving, walking and running into our late 80s

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  6. April Ozbilgin21 July 2014 at 00:17

    So sorry for you loss Annie. Touching post. You brought tears to my eyes.

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  7. Anonymous21 July 2014 at 00:58

    Sending hugs your way. 90 and paragliding... what a wonderful man. Your post touched me so much because Papounet, my father-in-law, was a pilot. He fought cancer through to the end with the determination to get back to his passion -cruising the thermals in his glider in the company of vultures. He died three months ago. I hope that he is talking technique with your dad.

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    1. BacktoBodrum21 July 2014 at 17:25

      I hope there is a multi-national thermals club up their. (and not one that involves wandering around in thick underwear)

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  8. Erica (Irene)21 July 2014 at 01:53

    So sorry about the loss of your Father....but happy he lived his last years what he loved to do right to the end..... What a nice tribute you wrote.....

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  9. Senior Dogs Abroad21 July 2014 at 04:46

    Annie, Your postings about your father were so funny and loving, they really gave us a great idea of the kind of guy he was. Well, you know we're always trying to check out the buzzards that fly over our house so we'll keep you posted. Take care.

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    1. BacktoBodrum21 July 2014 at 17:27

      He loved Turey and was talking about us all making a trip to istnbul in October, so he may well fly over.

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  10. Alan21 July 2014 at 08:14

    . . condolences, Annie - and congratulations to DCS for a life well used!

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    1. BacktoBodrum21 July 2014 at 17:28

      His sister Joy is still going at 93. Not steady on her feet but still enjoying a G&T despite diabetes.

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  11. Levent Varlık21 July 2014 at 09:10

    Sad news... Rest in peace..

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  12. annie21 July 2014 at 09:42

    While I am so sad to hear of your loss, it is inspiring to hear of somebody with such humour and spirit. I would be happy just to get to that age! He sounds like a wonderful character. Watch out buzzard community! x

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    1. BacktoBodrum21 July 2014 at 17:31

      Until quite recently he went on paragliding holidays to Spain, so he may well fly over. He read for blog occasionally so he knows where you are.

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  13. Jack Scott21 July 2014 at 10:44

    Let's hope we all go quickly. Thinking of you xxx

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  14. Ozlem's Turkish Table21 July 2014 at 13:01

    A beautiful send off to your dad, may he rest in peace; my sincere condolences - I know loved ones always stay with you with one way or another. Cok sevgiler, and so can;t wait to meet you in person, Ozlem x

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    1. BacktoBodrum21 July 2014 at 17:32

      I will keep in touch about my return date.

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  15. Janice21 July 2014 at 13:58

    I am so sorry he has gone Annie....but cannot fail to smile, as I am sure you are doing, remembering him. What a man. Buzzards will never look the same to me again. I'll smile and say hello Derek Charles Sadler. Jx

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    1. BacktoBodrum21 July 2014 at 17:33

      I must find the TV program about air ambulances, the my dad featured in - he didn't crash very often but managed to be filmed by the BBC when he did.

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  16. Maecy21 July 2014 at 17:42

    Beautiful. Thinking of you xx

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  17. Vicky (Deleted Blogger profile)22 July 2014 at 10:20

    So sorry for your loss but what a good way to go!

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    1. BacktoBodrum23 July 2014 at 08:12

      My mother has been amazed by the number of people writing to her

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  18. Ayak22 July 2014 at 20:54

    A very fitting tribute to a remarkable man Annie. A Dad to be proud of xxx

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  19. BacktoBodrum23 July 2014 at 08:13

    Thanks Ayak

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  20. Anonymous23 July 2014 at 11:35

    Hi Annie, we spoke yesterday at Bodrum airport, reading about your fathers passion for hangliding leads me to believe he will have known a very good friend of mine who also enjoys flinging himself off cliff faces. Hope you got back to Stur ok, Les & Sue

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    1. BacktoBodrum23 July 2014 at 16:11

      Got back safe and sound and am enjoying the warm weather.

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  21. Unknown24 July 2014 at 23:55

    Hi,
    A quick story if I may,
    back in 2009 I had just learnt to Paraglide, living in Shaftesbury I looked for someone who could help me from having just passed my test to actually flying.
    I joined the Wessex club and took up residence at a local hill called Bell. Very soon after I heard a car coming up the track in a Paris to Dakar style rally, the car parked up and an old chap got out. I sat and watched thinking where is his dog! No dog appeared and the man pulled a paragliding kit from the boot. I watched as this man prepped his kit and was gone. Bloody hell I thought I have been here for hours and it’s been either much to windy or too little and he has turned up just as its right.
    He landed after an hour or so and walked over to me asking why I was not flying, I replied “it’s a bit fast for me” Derek said “ it will never be just right so don’t waste your time her get up there”.
    And so I did, given the push I needed and met someone who would turn out to be a good friend.
    Over the years Derek would guide me, pushing me, and at every opportunity flying with me to show me how.
    The one thing that always made him laugh was the fact that I was scared of heights.
    Last year Derek approached my 17 year old son who accompanied me on many occasions and stared encouraging/pushing him as he had done to me. “come on get in the air “ he would say every time we saw him. On one day he insisted we follow him home as he had a harness and then organise a wing from another member. He loved flying and was so encouraging to me and my son that without his excitement for the sport I/we would not be flying today.
    Derek became more than a flying partner over the years as I saw his as a life saver and friend to both myself and my son.
    His death has hit me harder than I realised, he was a great man and this has ripped a huge hole in my life. Your Dad was a Legend.

    David Ormerod
    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204454214614842&set=a.10204454214414837.1073741834.1216023607&type=3&theater

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    1. BacktoBodrum25 July 2014 at 00:31

      Thank you David. I hope you can come along to the funeral at Yeovil crematorium on Monday 11th at 12:00, please say hello if you do. My mother and I much appreciate this wonderful comment.

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  22. Unknown26 July 2014 at 12:27

    Hi Annie,

    I will indeed be attending and look forward to meeting you then.

    Dave

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  23. Susan Claire20 July 2016 at 13:11

    Hi Annie the first time I met your mother she spoke with the same love and affection you do about your Dad. I thought then what a wonderful character and special man he must have been and think it even more now I hear about his plan to get his own back from a great height. Thinking of you Sue xx

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