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David Cameron in loving tribute to ‘brilliant father’ who inspired him
Joe Murphy, Political Editor9 Sep 2010
A shattered David Cameron today paid an emotional tribute to the “brilliant father” who he called his inspiration.
“Our dad was an amazing man — a real life enhancer,” he said as he left France with members of his family after an exhausting dash to the deathbed of Ian Cameron, 77, who suffered a fatal stroke while on holiday.
“He touched a lot of lives in lots of different ways and was a brilliant husband and father,” went on Mr Cameron. “You could never be down for long when he was around. We will miss him terribly but have a bank of memories that can never be exhausted.”
The Prime Minister was returning to Downing Street this afternoon and plans to return to his desk tomorrow. He will cut out public engagements for the next few days rather than take time off during his bereavement so soon after taking paternity leave for the birth of his daughter Florence, whose grandfather did not live to see her.
Mr Cameron stayed overnight in France at a summer residence in the Fort de Brégançon belonging to President Sarkozy, who also laid on a helicopter to ensure that the Prime Minister and his brother and sister made it to their father's bedside before he died yesterday afternoon.
In his tribute, Mr Cameron highlighted his father's courageous refusal to be slowed down by being born with serious handicaps, including deformed legs. “He never let the disability he was born with or the complications in later life get in the way of his incredible sense of fun and enjoyment,” he said.
“This was unexpected and sudden, but he was having a wonderful holiday and was with great friends. Above all he was with mum, to whom he was devoted, and he was happy — and the end came quickly. We will treasure all the joy he brought us.”
Condolences were pouring into Downing Street from friends and political rivals alike. Mr Cameron also thanked President Sarkozy for the helicopter which “helped me get to the hospital while dad was still with us so I could say goodbye”.
Mr Cameron's mother Mary called him at about 6am yesterday to break the news of his father's collapse during a two-week holiday in the south of France. He missed Prime Minister's Questions to dash to the bedside. The Tory leader has called his father a “huge hero figure” whose sense of community inspired the Big Society idea.
Ian Cameron endured repeated operations as a child yet managed to play sport and pursue a successful career as a stockbroker.
Downing Street said no date had been fixed for Mr Cameron's funeral and it was not yet known when the body would be repatriated.
Family friends said Ian Cameron had been “proud” to see his son become Prime Minister and visited both 10 Downing Street and Chequers after the election.
In the election campaign, his son hugged and kissed his wheelchair-bound father after a speech crediting him with helping to inspire his political ideals.
