Many people knew Brain James Ward as a friend, a few as a relative, five as a grandfather, three as a brother, two as a son and one as a husband.

We had the honour of knowing him as our father.

Dad believed that if you couldn’t say anything nice about someone, it was better not to say anything at all. He was a traditional man, not judgemental, but patient, kind and predictable in all ways. The words most often used by those who have been shocked by his sudden passing is “a true gentleman”.

He will be missed by all that knew him.

It certainly seems that Dad was no enigma to people, all found him kind, loyal, hardworking and totally dependable.

As children we were raised to know what was right and what was wrong, by example and through love and guidance. Dad always treated us as adults even from the youngest of ages. Our views and feelings were always considered, and without exception Mum and Dad always put us first in everything they did, which is very different from always doing everything we wanted!

Some of our earliest memories are of Dad returning from work, changing, eating and getting out his private work for the night, every night. When we were 8/9 years old he managed to convert a huge pile of work into a colour TV for the family just in time for the new David Attenborough series Life on Earth. He never moaned about work and later in life looking back at what seemed normal at the time now seems exceptional dedication. Memories of him sat at the dining room table summing columns of numbers 2/3 digits at a time will never leave us.

Although Dad worked hard, he always had time for other people. He was a man of many varied interests: music, history, theatre, and of course sport. A lover of cricket, and especially football, he supported Crystal Palace for over 70 years. He first came to Selhurst Park with his beloved grandpa after the war and was a faithful follower his entire life. He combined meticulous knowledge of all Palace’s ups and downs with passion and pride. To him supporting Palace was not just about football, but a bond between family and friends. So many significant moments and stories in our family are tied to memories of Palace, and his devotion to fair play, humour and optimism continues to inspire his all that knew him.

Having worked every day and most nights, it’s only as adults that we realise the enormous sacrifices that Dad made for us. Having worked throughout the week, he gave up every Saturday morning to watch us at the local sports centre – doing trampolining, football, and dance. For hours. Every Saturday. But to Dad that sort of dedication was nothing remarkable and he was always willing to offer the umpire helpful advice from the touchline. Even as a grandparent he would still want to come and watch his granddaughters in Christmas plays, dance shows, playing football, athletics, or whatever else they were involved in.  

His talents did not however span all aspects of life. It’s fair to say that as a handy man he wasn’t exactly successful. But being a resourceful parent, he bought 6-year old Will his first tool kit, and encouraged him to explore the practical, hands-on world, as well as the academic one: something that stands Will in good stead today.

In his younger life Dad always enjoyed playing all kinds of Sport. When he was just 14 he organised the 'sports day' in his street (Aylett Road). Amongst other things he went out and bought some bamboo canes for the hurdles. It wasn’t long before one of the neighbours got annoyed and complained to the police about not being able to walk on the pavement.  Undeterred and as resourceful as ever, Brian decided, with the agreement of the people who lived in the next street, to move it there, and the boys were all cheered along by the residents! A policeman did make an appearance on his bicycle but only to give them a smile and cycle on.

He used to love running and quite often would go with his sister Pam, into Croydon on the bus.  He would take off his formals (Pam would bring them back) get down to his running gear and would then run back home, each time trying to beat his previous best time.  Not forgetting the football games where up to 20 + boys used to put their coats down for goalposts, and enjoy a game without touchlines, linesman, a most importantly for Dad a referee! He would also walk to meet Uncle Doug from work at Norwood Junction, and back to Brooklyn Road, to spend time with his grandparents.

He leaves us many fond memories of close fought tennis games, pitch and put golf courses and of course football kick abouts in the park at the top of the road with the make shift goal posts and Uncle Clive and the cousins.

The decision to send us to private schools at the age of 11 and not the local failing state school was a huge family decision and one that certainly contributed to making us the people we are today.  

As we left school and the family home to start our independent lives in further education we did so knowing we had the support of our parent. They always encouraged us to step out confidently, as well as supporting us emotionally, and opening our minds to new things

Eventually along came marriage and just when he thought his days of dealing with children had passed within a 6-year period we’d provided Dad with 5 grandchildren to deal with. 5 grandchildren that will miss him terribly, their memories of him will all be happy & loving ones.

Dad was an emotional man, in the best sense. He loved stories of unsung heroes, those who made sacrifices for the greater good or for the love of others. To us he was a hero, because he never failed us, and we grew up secure in the knowledge that we were loved. It’s a great comfort to us now that Dad knew how much we loved him.

It’s almost impossible to sum up a life lived fully and richly for nearly 82 years in this way. There are so many reminders that will continue to make us smile. The long phone calls that would always start with “I won’t take up much of your time”, and then go on for hours. Always wanting to pay for every meal, and the elaborate lengths that we would have to go to in order to stop him doing so. Never rushing or leaving earlier than he’d planned, even if we were all ready (apart from the 1990 FA Cup final when we got to Wembley before every other fan). Dad camped out and queued for 2 days & nights for 1990 cup final tickets. He was first in line, and when the time finally came to buy the tickets he very kindly let his 10-year-old nephew Simon take his place.

Dad had many stories that we would hear over and over as he introduced them to each new generation – eating a banana with the skin on after the war because he’d never seen one; breaking into the Duke of Norfolk’s estate with Uncle Clive; proposing to Mum at the Royal Festival Hall, but then making her wait for the ring until Palace scored (which they failed to do of course).    

Looking back Dad you did an exceptional job, truly if someone asked for one aspect we could change, other than your early departure, we couldn’t name one. We’ll always remember giving you a goodbye hug at the Moody Mare after a lovely impromptu meal with the family. We never realised that this would be the last.

Thanks Dad you left a lot to live up too, I hope you are proud of your creations, we’re certainly very proud to have had you as our father.