David was born on 11th April 1929 in Southsea to Walter and Mildred Cook. He had a sister, Sonia, who was his senior by 9 & half years.  When David was 3 & half his Father retired from the Royal Navy and the family took The Castle Inn Public House in Trowbridge, Wilts before they finally moved back to Portsmouth. At the age of 11 David qualified to attend Northern Grammar School in Mayfield Road, however as the 2nd world war had broken out, David was evacuated to Winchester, where he lived for the next 4 years in a hostel, Bereweeke House; with 30 other boys. Only coming home during school holidays where he experienced some bombing spending a lot of time in College Park shelter with his Mum.
 
In 1944, he returned to Portsmouth and entered the Portsmouth Dockyard as a Shipwright Apprentice. As part of the entrance tests David had to have a medical, which included an eye test. This was an issue for him as he had been diagnosed with bad eye sight just before the war. David was relieved to discover that all the boys in front of him had to read aloud the same line of the test card, so by the time it came to him he had memorised the line and he passed.
 
At the end of his apprenticeship in 1949 David was conscripted into the Army as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers. Part of his training was rifle practise, but because of David’s eye sight his aim was not too good.  After the first couple of shots the officer in charge suggested he shouldn’t fire a rifle again, because the bullets may end up in Farnborough, a town four miles away! Following his training he was posted to Southampton Port and Transport Regiment and whilst there he dropped a railway sleeper on his foot. He was sent to the M.O. and whilst there he asked him to check his eyes. The M.O. was amazed that David couldn’t read any of the sight tests and sent him to Netley Military Hospital for further tests. David was discharged in 1951 as a ‘blind Soldier’ and advised to try contact lenses, which were new, and for the first time in 22 years he could see properly.
 
David then returned to the Dockyard as a shipwright and after 3 years He entered the Drawing Office as a Draughtsman, where he worked until 1984 gaining promotion along the way.  When he took early retirement he received the Imperial Service Medal in recognition of 40 years service.  He then joined The Mary Rose Trust on a part time basis until he finally retired from work in 1992.
 
David married his first wife Joyce (who sadly died in 2005) in 1952 and had three lovely girls Ann, Diane (Twins) and Karen. However after 23 years the marriage ended in divorce. During the marriage David saw a lot of the world travelling on Royal Navy Ships producing technical drawings for ship refits. The rest of the family even joined him in 1967 when David was seconded to Singapore to train the local Draughtsmen and they lived there for 2 and half years and made lots of happy memories.
 
As a single man again David would go to the Downtown Club in Portsmouth where he met Margaret, and in February 1976 they got married, with David inheriting Margaret’s two children, Steven and Julie who would come to look on him as ‘Dad’.  They lived in Cosham until 1987 when Margaret became a Warden at Charlesclark House, Milton.  Whilst Margaret looked after the house and residents, David would help out with the garden and take charge of any odd jobs that needed doing.  Never wanting to be idle, it was here he took up a number of hobbies. He was a keen painter and loved to paint in acrylics spending many an hour in the spare room. Margaret and David also joined a dancing club at St James Hospital League and would go every Monday evening, and when Margaret got some time off they would walk for miles along the seafront with Margaret trying to keep up.
 
It was whilst at Charlesclark House David and Margaret started going on holiday 3 times a year.  Despite their fear of flying they would look forward to their next trip. They travelled to various destinations across Europe, however their favourites where Nerja in Spain and EsCana in Ibiza which were yearly trips until 2018. They got to know both places so well that they had regular haunts where the owners would welcome them with free tapas and drinks. They also loved going to Bournemouth spending a week there in November 2019, which was their last holiday together.
 
David had great penmanship, whether a card, thank you note or letter, receiving something from him in his handwriting was a treat. He believed it was the proper thing to do; to send a letter to say thank you or provide you with news or an update of what is going on.  So much so, the first half of this tribute was written in pen by himself with the latter years being added by his daughters. He even wrote Margaret and his Daughters a last letter, something we will treasure for ever.
 
In October 2010, in preparation for Margaret’s retirement, they purchased a new flat in Brent Court, moving in April 2011. This was a very happy home and a place both David and Margaret found great comfort in. Now both retired they made the most of every day, going out for walks and having lunch out. One of their favourite spots was the café at Canoe Lake, where they would sit outside and have a coffee and sticky bun while counting the swans on the lake.  They also enjoyed the Saturday night curry and quiz nights at Brent Court, even though David didn’t always know many of the answers he liked the company and he liked his curry.  They also kept in regular contact with his cousins Vera, John and Francis.
 
David lived a full, long and happy life and was a true Gentleman in every sense of the word. He was very proud of his children and their partners; Ann, Adrian, Karen, Alex, Diane, Steven, Paula, Julie, Matt. He was also very proud of his grandchildren; Jodie, Shelley, Sophie, Hannah, Ethan, Katrina and Nicholas and his great grandchildren; Dionne, Merson, Lola, Lottie,  and Harley.
 
David loved family gatherings where he would sit and take everything in and we are all very grateful for these times we spent together, they will stay with us forever. One of David’s favourite haunts was the Red Lion in Southwick. When we booked the table during the winter months, we had to request the table by the fire and make sure the steak and kidney pudding was on the menu. If he had room afterwards it was sticky toffee pudding or ice cream (ginger if possible) to finish. Mind you we didn’t see him all the time, he and Margaret were so busy we had to ring up and check if they were available for a visit. But we always knew he was there for us and we were there for him!
David lived a long, full and happy life and in turn he made our lives richer and fuller and his passing has left a gaping hole, but he will always be in our hearts and thoughts.
 
Finally the family would like to thank everyone for their condolences and  kindness over the last few of weeks. With special thanks to the team at Rowans Hospice, Purbook who looked after him so well and made it possible for him to come home in his last week; to Helen Currie and her team of nurses; to Dr ‘Tom’ Wood who was so kind to him and visited him in his own time in his last couple of days and the Mayfair nursing team for their help and care.
And from Ann and Karen we would like to thank Margaret for loving our Dad and for the 44 happy years of marriage you had. But most of all for looking after him so well over the last couple of months and days. You were his soulmate and much loved.