Nigel Jones says his father is the best dad in the world. -Andrew Smith/Photography Editor

Nigel Jones, Flair Guest Editor

It is not often that any child gets the opportunity to publicly pay homage to his father and so for this opportunity, I am eternally grateful. My father is Norman Washington Jones. He is a career civil servant. He worked with the Jamaica Railway Corporation longer than my 31 years of existence.

Growing Up

I grew up with both parents. My father has always been a major source of inspiration. He is one of the finest persons I know. His quiet, unassuming persona, while commendable, is not a true reflection of the contribution that this man has made to the lives of our family members.

He has always been there for us. I recall being able to call on him for just about anything I need. He taught my brother and I the importance of honesty, integrity, discipline and hard work. This lesson was learnt, not by any deliberate attempt on his part to inculcate, we merely absorbed what we saw around us.

He has led by example. I am yet to hear my father curse, in fact, I cannot recall him even shouting. Yet this has not made him any less of a person or any less effective as a father figure. It is a mystery to me how a man who is so calm is able to achieve and maintain the respect of his family and his colleagues. It is a mystery that perhaps will remain unsolved and one of those which you actually appreciate and prefer not to fully explore.

Encouragement

My father has always wanted us to succeed. As I reflect, I realise that he probably wanted us to achieve and accomplish even more than we hoped for ourselves. To that end, he encouraged without pushing. I continue to benefit from his guidance an I sometimes take issue with his conservatism, his words of wisdom are not lost on deaf ears.

Dad, you have been an example for all dads to follow. Our disagreements have been few. So few that I cannot even recall one. As I too am now the father of a two-year-old son, if I can be half the father you are, I would have done an excellent job. Here is to wishing you happy Father's Day.

A big thank you to the best dad in the world!