Four years on from losing her father Jim Rayment, Jaime Britton is honouring him this Father’s Day with a dedication page in his memory.
Born in Tottenham on 22nd August 1934, Jim Rayment had two brothers and sisters and was a twin to a sister who sadly died at birth. We spoke to Jaime about her father, who was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in October 2019 and died later the same year aged 85.
A word from his daughter
“Dad went into the army at 18, but after a few years he got TB while stationed in Egypt and had to leave for treatment. TB was difficult to treat then, and he was left with only half a lung on one side. He was lucky to survive.
“He married his first wife and they had three boys. After they divorced, he met my mum when she was 18. Even with a 19-year age gap they clicked right away and went on to share an incredible 45 years together, having me and my brother along the way.”
“My dad was a qualified carpenter. He was a keen gardener and also had an allotment. Also, he loved his birds and enjoyed being around wildlife. He loved action and cowboy films and was a fan of Motown and Country music too.
He had a great sense of humour and I always loved chatting with him about his childhood as I loved learning about how things were different when he was young.
“I have very fond memories of my dad and had a great childhood with him and my family. I was his only girl so we had a great father-daughter bond.
“When I was a little girl, we used to go to the seaside most weekends in summer and we also baked together. He loved his puddings and we both shared a sweet tooth!.
Christmas with Dad
“Christmas was always warm and happy in our house. On Christmas Eve, we sang songs, ate treats and got ready for Santa. Our tradition was simple but exciting — we each picked one present to open that night.
“When I was younger, Dad made me a keepsake box and painted it himself. It had been his old toolbox from his carpentry work, which made it even more special. I still have it. It is now my memory box, filled with things that remind me of him, along with the letters I always asked my mum and dad to write when I was little.
“Our nightmare began in 2019. Dad started coughing up blood while we were on holiday, which really worried us. He also kept saying it felt like something was stuck in his throat that he couldn’t clear. In October 2019, we got the devastating news that he had stage 4 lung cancer. Just one month later, he died after also developing sepsis.
“We talk about my dad often and keep his happy memories alive. We are grateful that despite his diagnosis, he lived a full life and made such a big impact on everyone around him. It gives me and my family comfort to know he didn’t suffer for long. We believe he is now at peace and free from pain.”