Well, as you can probably guess from the title of this post, it’s not going to be a particularly uplifting one.
Sandy is not writing this – this is Laura, his (favourite) daughter. I can’t promise my writing style will be as nuanced and hilarious as my dad so bear with me…
My dad passed away last night at around 11pm. After having spent two days in a hospital bed that was installed in our house, he took a nosedive at midday, and we all knew that this was it. He died peacefully surrounded by his sisters and my mum, and wasn’t agitated or scared at all – which is really all any of us can ask for when our time comes.
This blog was very important to him. I think it was a way to make him feel connected to everyone who read it, and a way for him to still be Sandy rather than a cancer patient. It’s a wonderful testimony to his sheer stubbornness. I’d like to thank everyone who has read, liked, or commented on his blog, whether it’s been every post or just one or two. This network of support and outpouring of love has been crucial, not just for Dad but also for me and my mum, so thank you.
And with that, I’ll leave you. It’s a tough time and frankly just a bit shit but life is full of good times and bad times, and with my dad, the bad times were insignificant compared to a lifetime of good. I’ll share a quote that Dad always passed off as his own, but I recently discovered he pinched from John Lennon:
“It’ll all be okay in the end, and if it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”
Laura x
Endangered, not extinct (yet...) 
Oh Laura my heart is breaking for you all. Send love to mum please. It’s so comforting watching a loved one pass peacefully and without agitation , I experienced it myself recently. ❤️❤️
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Laughed and cried, much love to you all xxx
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Beautifully written Laura, deeply saddened to hear of Sandys passing. My thoughts are with you all xx
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Carrying you and your mum in our hearts, the world was a better place with your dad in it, and his inspiration and love of life will be with us forever. XX
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My heart breaks for you all. Take comfort in his memories. Sandy will never be forgotten ❤️🩹 It’s been a blessing and fortunate to follow this blog and his journey.
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I’m so very sad to hear this. Was thinking of Sandy on my run this morning, wondering how things were going. My deepest sympathies to you and your mum.
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Heart breaking news yet beautifully written Laura. The world is worse off without Sandy. A wonderful man with an ability to wax lyrical on many a subject & someone who could match me for bike related nonsense too. My sincere condolences & I fell very fortunate to have known Sandy. God speed my friend!
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Such sad news today Laura. Your Dad was one of life’s good guys and he has many friends and former colleagues at Highland Spring and across the packaging industry. He was very proud of you. Our thoughts are with you and your Mum x
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Really superbly written Laura, we are all so saddened to hear of Sandy’s passing. We will miss Sandy so much. Thinking of you all right now. We send you our condolences and if there is anything we can do to help please get in touch. David McCord and Family. X
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Hello Laura, your Dad was such a fabulous person and made my working life all the more fun being in it. He spoke with such love for you and Nicola and was so proud of you. Sending my love to you and I hope you can get some comfort knowing your Dad made the world a brighter and happier place for so many people when you were in his company xxx
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Dearest Laura
Thank you for writing this recent post for your Dad. You are a chip off the old block. Sandy was a very much treasured friend of over 40yrs, always smiling, but if things were not going as planned he’d say “stick bubbly”… no idea where he got that from! You and your mum Nicola have been in Thomas’ and my thoughts knowing all to well the gap Sandy will leave from our own loss. You have both lost Dads as you embark on adulthood and will carry forward the good influences they’d have passed on. It will get easier and there will be moments of tears some sad but most of happy times. All our love Sue and Thomas xx
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What a beautiful photo of you both Laura. Such sad news to lose such a wonderful soul from all our lives. Sandy lives on through you, your Mum and family.
Sending you lots of love 💗 & hugs x x Di x x
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Gonna miss cheeky Sandy. Beautifully written Laura, just like your Dad. Xx🐿❤️
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Sending soo much love to you and your Mum, Laura ❤your Dad was a lovely lovely man always happy and had a remarkable outlook on life and everyone should take a leaf from his book xx I know you’ll clmake him proud everyday xx
🥰❤
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Beautiful post Laura, you’re dad will be so proud. So sorry to hear this but glad it was peaceful, pain free and at home as you all wanted. Your dad was a lovely man and always so optimistic. Lots of love to you all xx
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So, so sad to hear that Sandy has passed away. It has been a privilege to have known Sandy, both as a friend and a fellow ‘Squirrel.’ I only moved to Scotland 7 years ago, but it feels like I have known Sandy forever. R.I.P. Sandy, you fine fellow. 😪
On Tue, 1 Feb 2022, 11:40 Endangered, not extinct (yet…), wrote:
> rentascruff posted: ” Well, as you can probably guess from the title of > this post, it’s not going to be a particularly uplifting one. Sandy is not > writing this – this is Laura, his (favourite) daughter. I can’t promise my > writing style will be as nuanced and hilarious as ” >
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Have laughed and cried through all these blog posts, have discovered anew the wonderful, wise, caring person who I am privileged to have been a big sister to. You are truly your father’s daughter Laura, Your mum has generously allowed me and Kay to share the loving peaceful passing and we are all the wealthier in love for that. Love always xx
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How can news so heartbreaking still make me smile ?
You all have been, are, and will continue to be bloody wonderful, lovely and inspirational buggers !
I shall raise a glass to his memory 🖤🥃
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We are all desperately sad, but Sandy will stay an inspiration in our hearts and minds forever. Thank you Laura for your lovely post – your Dad would have been so proud of you. love from Beth & John xx
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Your Dad was a lovely man and I am so glad that he got to die peacefully at home with his family around him. You and your Mum are in my thoughts and I will raise a glass to Sandy tonight x
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Thank you for updating us, and I’m sure you Dad would be very pleased and proud of you for doing that.
We will all remember him
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Aww Laura thank you for letting us know about your Dad’s peaceful passing and that he was surrounded by the closest people to him. Wonderful.
All of you should feel proud as you did the very best for your Dad Husband Brother. It is not easy!
Take time for you all to recover.
Big hugs to all
Clare
Xx
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So sorry to see this post today, Sandy was one of the nicest, most decent guys I have known, and it’s so sad that he has passed away so soon. My deepest condolences to you all. Steve
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This has been the saddest news today. You were only a toddler the last time I saw you and your mum and dad. Sandy was friends with my then brother in law and we met at several social occasions over the years. I can still see his lovely smile.
Your blog today was so poignant. Much love to you and your mum and I hope all the wonderful and good times will resonate and give you the strength to carry on and live your life as your Dad would want for you.
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Our thoughts are with you all at this very sad time. What a remarkable and lovely man, feel good honoured to have known him and worked along side him back in AssiDomain days.
Love to you all
Zoe, Stuart & family x 💔
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The light that he projected on here without ever skirting around the realities is something that I’ll always have in my heart.
Thank you all for sharing a small part of this journey with us. All of my love Xx
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Laura thank you for this post, which I am only reading now. So beautifully written and under truly hellish circumstances. Please take care of yourself and your mum too. Sending you all of our love and if you need a bleather, pop down. Much love Emma, Grant, Holly and Callum xxx
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Hi Laura, I hope you and your Mum have managed through today. I was sad but glad when we got to say our goodbye today in Falkland to your wonderful Dad. When some of the days are darker than others I hope you can look back at the messages of support and take comfort from them xxxxxxx
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I just became aware of this blog yesterday and have pretty much read it in one go with a sleep break. It was very moving.
I knew Sandy for a very short time as a tiny part of the ‘F1 pit stop’ oncology team at QMH he mentioned, but I will carry his thoughts and fears about treatment and his beautifully articulated experience with me in my practice from this day on.
RIP⭐️
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