"To him marriage meant husband, wife and children"

My dad trained for the priesthood; at 18, he dispatched himself from Blackrock College to Trinidad where he was a seminarian for three years with the Holy Ghost fathers.

Then he left the island for London, taking with him a love of god — and steel drums — or steel-pans as they’re called in Trinidad. He was weak for god and steel drum bands all his life.

In London, he shook off his single life and married my mum, but never shook off his faith. Couldn’t. Wouldn’t. Never wanted to. I’ve never known a faith like it.