The politician thanked staff at Dove House Hospice, saying they ‘made a painful new year bearable’
Emma Hardy, Labour MP for Hull West and Haltemprice(Image: Katie Pugh)
A Hull MP has thanked constituents for their moving messages of support after her dad died. Emma Hardy, Labour MP for Hull West and Haltemprice, made the sad announcement on social media on January 5 that her father David Mattinson, a well known former headteacher, had passed away.
The politician also thanked those who had been caring for him at Dove House Hospice and Hull Royal Infirmary. She also linked to a page to the Chamberlain Rd hospice, calling for donations to be made.
In a heartfelt post made after the loss of her dad, she said: “This morning I lost my much loved and beloved Dad. He spent his last days at Dove House Hospice and they were amazing. So kind and so very caring.
“They made a painful new year bearable. My thanks also to the staff at Hull Royal for caring for him, particularly those in Resus, AMU and Ward 90. My social media will be much quieter but I’ve asked my office to keep you all updated with any news or relevant announcements.”
Days later, she posted: “Thank you everyone so much for your kind messages and lovely memories of my dad. It’s meant so much to read about him as your teacher, friend and colleague. I couldn’t be prouder to have him as my dad. Thank you everyone for your kind comments, some really made me smile. I loved reading about how dad inspired people’s taste in music and your memories of him.”
The call for donations to be made to Dove House Hospice has so far raised £450 on Facebook. A separate donation link included with an online obituary has raised £1,100, and a further £240 has also been raised for Parkinson’s UK in David’s memory.
A family-written obituary to David, a former headteacher who was 77 when he died, shared poignant stories from his youth, his teaching days and later years in retirement. After spending many years teaching in Leighton Buzzard and Newbald he had moved to be Head of Elloughton Primary School, Brough, where he was in charge until his retirement in 2008, and many former pupils took to social media to send messages of support.
One Facebook post said: “I have many fond memories of Mr Mattinson at North Newbald School. My favourite day of the week was Friday when he got out his guitar and we sang quite unusual songs for a primary school singalong! I was in the guitar club so it meant I received a folder with all the songs in it! I still have the book he presented to me when I left to go to secondary school. I hope your happy memories comfort you. He was a great man who impacted the lives of so many people.”
One post said: “Sorry to hear this sad news. I was Chair of Governors at Elloughton school many years ago and often recall fondly sitting chatting to your dad in his office, putting the world to rights. He was such a supporter of the children and wanted the best for them.”
Another message of support said: “Your dad and I started at Newbald Primary school on the same day, me, a pupil in yr 5, and your dad, the head. He was so kind to me and my favourite teacher ever. He started my love of Roald Dahl’s works and imagination, which I shared with my girls, and still have the books that he gave me as a leaving gift when transferring to secondary school.
“I have many happy memories of Friday afternoons spent, singing, with him playing the guitar and teaching us so many songs. Lily the Pink and Little Boxes spring to mind! More recently, I saw his face light up, when I reminded him of those happy school days when seeing him walking around the village.
“I will always fondly remember Mr Mattinson and thank him for his part in my education, and planting the seed in my head at 10 years old that I could go to University and study maths … Something that I, a very young, quiet, shy, nervous girl would ever have believed. Sending love and strength to you all on the loss of this special man.”
The funeral for David Mattinson will be on Thursday January 22 at 2.30pm at Newbald Church.