Help give the late Nigel Dixon a funeral

My name is Emma. Last week my sisters - Sian and Hannah - and I received the devastating news that our Dad - Nigel - had passed away. This is the last photo taken of the four of us together, at Sian's wedding in summer 2021.

His death was unexpected. It came as a huge shock to all of us. And unfortunately, the coroner hasn't yet been able to tell us what happened, or why. She says it might be July before she can give us any more information.

Now we have to arrange a funeral that we have no way of paying for. So, embarrassing as it feels, I need to ask for your help. Please donate whatever you can afford now, to make sure my Dad gets the funeral he deserves.

Dad's funeral is going to cost £4,790. It's money that we just don't have. But everybody deserves the respect of being remembered and celebrated after they die. A lack of money should not mean that my Dad's passing goes unmarked.

To me, Mr Nigel Walter (he hated his middle name!) Dixon was simply 'Dad'. Some of you may have known him as your fly-fishing buddy, a fellow member of the 200mph club, or even as 'Private D**k the S**t Dixon' in the airborne brotherhood.

Dad lived a full life and when he loved something, he was all in. Decades after it happened, he would still brag about catching more fish than his brother - Merion - on a fly fishing course in the '90s. He had over 25 motorbikes throughout his life and regularly enjoyed giving me palpitations by drag racing his modified 'Busa well into his 60s. And to the day that he died, his proudest achievement was having served alongside his brothers in 2 Para.

Perhaps you have memories of him that you would be kind enough to share with me? I'd love to hear them.

As you might imagine, my Dad wasn't a typical Dad! I've been thinking a lot about my childhood since he died - I was very much Daddy's little girl. I learned a lot from him that I still carry with me to this day. Not boring things like history or maths or geography (although there was some of that too). I mean the important stuff. And I'd like to share it with you now so that his wisdom will live on amongst all of us:

1. Never start a fight, but always finish it.

2. There's no point in doing something if you're not going to do it to the best of your ability.

3. You can find (usually sarcastic) humour, even in the darkest of places.

4. Never, ever mistreat animals - most of them are better people than most people.

5. Kimi Raikkonen undisputedly is the single most unlucky and underrated F1 driver of all time. Go, Iceman!

All this said, I think everyone who knew Dad would agree that he's never had an easy life. These past few months have unfortunately been particularly difficult - with both his physical and mental health declining.

I know that he's been worried about his health for a long time now - particularly the impact on those around him. After our Mum - his ex-wife - died back in 2015, he took out a life insurance policy. It was important to him to protect us - his family - from having to worry about money when his time came.

So how have we ended up here, with no way to pay for his funeral?

Some of you may already know that my Dad was admitted involuntarily to hospital last April. As well as being extremely physically unwell, he was suffering from hallucinations and was extremely paranoid. The life insurance company tells me that whilst he was in hospital, his payments lapsed, and so the policy is now void.

After such a difficult time in his later life, Dad had no savings to speak of and some significant debt. I can't stop thinking about the fact that with only ten more months of life insurance payments, we would be in a position to give Dad a very different kind of send-off.

I loved my Dad very much. And he deserves to be laid to rest with a funeral full of dignity and respect - surrounded by all of his family and friends. I do know that times are difficult for most of us right now, but if you can donate anything at all, please do. Every single contribution will make a huge difference to Dad. And he is so, so worth it.

Thank you.

Nigel Walter Dixon passed away at home in Coalville, Leicestershire in February 2023, aged 64. He was born in Middlesbrough, Teeside on 2 June, 1958 and leaves behind three daughters - Emma, Sian and Hannah - as well as his new grandson Jack, and his big sister Pamela. A funeral service will be held at Bretby Crematorium on Monday, 27 March 2023 at 12.45pm. Family flowers only please.