DAD’S LAST RIDE

In Memory of
T. Lionel Coulthard
On April 27th, 2006 The Coulthard Family lost our Great Grampa. Dad was 96 and still doing fine. Just the body failing a little. Dad was the last of his generation in our Family. The last time I was to visit him in the care home, about 3 weeks before he passed on, he asked "Did you bring the Morgan" Alas I had not. It was a very rainy weekend.

It was some years ago; when I first bought Morgan. I had often talked to dad about wanting one and he said "Well just keep looking, the right one will show up someday." I bought Morgan in May 98 and kept it a secret from him until Father's day. I phoned and said "I am on the Ferry and we are going to a picnic in Beacon Hill Park for Father's day. There is an All-Brits car show there." He came out of the house and was surprised. He slid into the passenger seat with ease and secured his favorite baseball cap on his head.

We had a great day together and since then he had attended several Father's day Picnics in Beacon Hill Park. That day, I met many new friends in a club called the Morgan Owners Group Northwest and soon joined.

Dad would often drag my stepmom, Suzanne, along to see all the Brit's cars at the ABFM in Vancouver as well. He enjoyed the innovative mechanical aspects of the great variation of cars, being a mechanical engineer, among many of his degrees.

He loved riding in the Morgan, it was always a special treat for him when he was in the extended care home. It was fun... and it was an excuse to get out the door.

We held the regular services in Chilliwack, on May 13th.

Sunday, June 4th.. we put a final closure on the last member of this generation of the Coulthard Family. It was Dad's wish to have his ashes scattered on the beach in front of the family summer home here, on Saltspring Island since 1964.

Sunday Morning June 4th I was up early and I took dad for his last ride in the Morgan along with his favorite baseball cap. I cried all the way down Beddis road and back. The baseball cap is now in the trophy cabinet in the Morgan Garage.

The whole family was here for the weekend. Dad loved roses so at 2 pm our neighbors, the Fords who knew my dad well joined us and we said a few words and scattered rose petals and Dad's ashes on the beach in front of the house. Dad made some of the best wine I have ever tasted. We saved some of the ashes and placed them in a wine bottle and planted an Oak tree over it near the beach in front of the house. All is well and dad is resting in peace. May God be with you, dad.

Every year possible, I will be attending the All-Brits Picnic in Beacon Hill Park but again this year I will miss my dad.

There are so many memories of my Dad, this is but one of them.


Marv Coulthard

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