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Home Entertainment Music

Snow Patrol front man Gary Lightbody pays tribute to ‘funniest’ father

By Press Association
Snow Patrol front man Gary Lightbody’s father has died after battling dementia for years (Aaron Chown/PA)
Snow Patrol front man Gary Lightbody’s father has died after battling dementia for years (Aaron Chown/PA)

Snow Patrol front man Gary Lightbody’s father has died after battling dementia for years.

Jack Lightbody was a legend who created happy memories for so many, his singer-songwriter son said.

The funeral was held on Christmas Eve and Lightbody posted details on his Instagram account on Friday.

He said: “I don’t know what life looks like without him, I can’t even comprehend it, but he’ll be in my heart and all my family’s hearts for the rest of our lives.”

View this post on Instagram

Just before Christmas my dad, Jack, passed away. We had his funeral on christmas eve with family and close friends. I’m not posting about it to make anyone sad and that’s why I waited until after Christmas to say anything at all I just wanted to pay tribute to the man that taught me and gave me so much. He was the funniest man I’ve ever known. Even in the depths of his dementia he could still be as sharp and hilarious as ever at times. He was also the most social person I ever knew. He could talk to anyone. I’m in introvert so I’m shy around strangers but he would walk into a room full of strangers and within ten mins know all their names and their stories and be having the craic with them all. It was a gift he never lost. We would walk into a restaurant and as we were being shown to our table he’d be talking to everyone at every other table we passed: “what are you having there, that looks good” and he’d be standing there chatting while we’d already be at our table waiting on him probably rolling our eyes. Ha. What a legend. All my friends that knew him loved him. The messages I got when they found out were of heartbreak but also each of my friends have been telling me stories of how my dad made them laugh and I’m so glad that all of people’s memories of him seem to be of happy times. My mum Lynne looked after him in his illness for years and her strength in all this has been a mighty thing to behold. She is a titan. Also my mum, my sister sarah (who is also a titan) and my awesome niece honey and myself would like to say a massive thank you to the staff at Oakmont Care Home for their wonderful care of him over the last eight months. If anyone met my dad at an SP gig or feels like they know him through the songs I wrote about him (Soon, I Think Of Home, Lifening) then, if you like, please raise a glass to him the next time you have a wee drink and say “cheers big jack”. He would‘ve liked that. I don’t know what life looks like without him, I can’t even comprehend it, but he’ll be in my heart and all my family’s hearts for the rest of our lives. I love you dad. There were none like you. Your son, gary.x

A post shared by Gary Lightbody (@garysnowpatrol) on

Snow Patrol, who are from Northern Ireland, went from struggling indie outfit to global success with their hit Chasing Cars.

Founding member Lightbody wrote the tracks Soon, I Think Of Home and Lifening about his father.

He paid tribute to a man who he said had taught and given him so much.

He said: “He was the funniest man I’ve ever known.

“Even in the depths of his dementia he could still be as sharp and hilarious as ever at times.”

His father made his friends laugh, he said.

“I’m so glad that all of people’s memories of him seem to be of happy times.”

His mother Lynne looked after him in his illness for years and the singer said her strength has been a mighty thing to behold.

“She is a titan,” he added.