Tribute Poem to my big brother Paul Anderson (written by Gillian Anderson)
PAUL, my big brother, where do I start?
I have so many memories locked within my heart ♥
I remember your clear blue eyes as a young boy
Greeting me first thing in the morning
So bright like the sky above or a Caribbean sea
Your mischievous grin and dimples on your cheeks
You always woke with a smile on your face, happy for the day ahead
Stephen and you would always cheer me up, if I went in the cream puff
Playing games and having fun, waiting for the next morning sun
Time didn’t matter we never noticed the hours go by
Care free and adventurous, we laughed, joked, always on a high
You were always making up rhymes and reciting them off the top of your head
I looked up to you, a mentor, and a confidante, one of my idols
Bono, Lennon, MLK & Jim Morrison, they never reached your heights
There was never a dull moment growing up with you
Always in your element in the middle of a drama
Remember you sang ‘Lou Lou’ when they gave you your ‘Q’
To a crowd at the primary school play, dressed up in drag
In a flowery dress, American tan tights and Mum’s handbag
Your other siblings never lived that down
At school you always stuck up for Stephen, your wee cousin Paul and me
You liked an adventure and you took a few risks
Like most young men your age, but you learnt from your mistakes
Remember all the holidays to seaside resorts with the ‘Dickson’ family
Auntie Sylvia, Uncle Frank, who sadly passed away
The highlights of Christmas and cheering on the Jambos on New Years Day
Our cousins Craig and Nicola, we nick-named ourselves the ‘Broons’
We could never really decide who was supposed to be who?
You were always so popular with all the family, and especially popular with girls
You would often be compared to ‘Shaken Stevens’ or a young ‘Elvis Presley’
A beautiful face with a personality to match, you ‘light’ up a room
Remember all your trips to London, attracted by the bright lights, big city
You knew it like the back of your hand, when we visited you we didn’t need a map
You worked in a few 5 stars hotels including Park Lane, where they filmed Mona Lisa
I believe you met Bob Hoskins and the other leading members
You couldn’t wait to phone me and tell me you had met U2’s guitarist ‘The Edge’
Our cousin Craig worked beside you at Kings Cross in The Royal Scot Hotel
He’s been telling us all the funny stories of your antics and partying nights out
You were always ‘larger than life’ and a bit of a party animal
You could dance like ‘Bez’ from The Happy Mondays and adored your idol
‘Shaun William Ryder’♫
Your itchy feet subsided and we were all glad to have you back
I think Mum and Dad played the song by ‘Peters & Lee’ to welcome you home
You finally found your footing back in Edinburgh and finally settled down
You fell in love with Jamie, your son, from the moment you first met
Took on new responsibilities and became the Dad he needed
We all gave you good advice, which I’m sure you heeded
With the birth of your child Christopher, you were over the moon
The family you desired was complete and you worked hard to keep them
Like our Mum & Dad had strived for us and gave them the things they desired
They were your whole world and always will be
A family man, with a ‘heart of gold’♥ that you wore on your sleeve
You studied hard at college and found all your hidden strengths
Helping others your compassion and understanding knew no ends
Self doubt plagued you but you overcame your demons and fears
We helped each other; we laughed, joked & sometimes dried away the tears
You encouraged me to follow in your footsteps, I shared the same compassion
I finally found my forte, you taught me so much about how to care and listen
The talents you had kept hidden came to fruition,
Football, music♫, computing, DIY and a sensitive intuition
In the kitchen cooking you were the perfect host
We had so many good times and you loved a little toast
You followed your main passion, a life long ‘Jambo’
You made time to see them home or away
Come win, lose or draw, glory or dismay
You met countless of well known players and managers on your travels
You became a big kid again and told the stories over and over
I heard all about those trips to Europe you must have had a ball
I remember all the busman holidays when you supported the ‘Freespace’tenants
If it involved football trips abroad you were always down on the rota
I was over the moon when you finally met your true love Fiona ♥
I was so happy for you; you had found your soul-mate
I sometimes gave you a hard time for not putting a ring on her finger
You told me the first birthday card you gave her, you were a year out
Silly you mistook her for a 40 year old, when she was still only 39
You spent the last 10 years living between your own home and
The Ferry, Fiona’s children Danielle, Thomas and Ross
They took to you like a family member, you became their 2nd Dad
I believe you were at your happiest then and I was so happy for you
The Gordon family took to you like a duck to water
Fiona’s Mum, Sisters & Brothers and extended family
A strange coincidence when Stephen ‘Big Bruv’ moved into the Ferry
He met his true-love Marion at the Ferry fair in the summer 2001
He too took on new responsibilities and became step Dad to Christopher
Then we had 2 Christopher’s in the family, what a confusion!
We had to nick name them Chris A and Chris B, we still do to this day
The family became even closer when you became a proud uncle
Stephen and Marion’s’ little bundle of joy Callum joined us in 2003
You always had time for anyone who needed help and cheering up
A peoples’ person, even strangers were attracted to your wit & charm
The gregarious, funny, genuine, talented and kind nature
You’ve now passed onto to your own children
You were happy for me when this year I became engaged to John in May
You thought you had missed the party but sorry there wasn’t one
I can’t believe I’m writing about you in a past tense
You have shaped so many lives all those who love and care for you
I am blessed to have had your guidance, strength and you in my life
We will always carry your memories in our hearts ♥♥ for evermore
I hope you’re somewhere safe and they love you just as much as we do
Gillian
1st July 2011