PM pays tribute to 'brilliant' father
Thursday, 9 September 2010 6:00 PM
By politics.co.uk staff
David Cameron has praised his father's "incredible sense of fun and enjoyment" as he grieves for Ian Cameron, who died yesterday aged 77.
The prime minister's father died yesterday in hospital while on holiday in France after suffering a stroke and heart complications.
David Cameron, who had only returned from paternity leave on Tuesday, rushed to the hospital to be with him in his final moments.
In a statement released by Downing Street from David Cameron and his family Ian Cameron, 77, was described as "a real life-enhancer".
"He never let the disability he was born with or the complications in later life get in the way of his incredible sense of fun and enjoyment," the statement read.
"He touched a lot of lives in lots of different ways and was a brilliant husband and father. You could never be down for long when he was around. We will miss him terribly but have a bank of memories that can never be exhausted."
Ian Cameron was "happy" when he died, the statement added. It said: "Above all he was with mum, to whom he was devoted, and he was happy - and the end came quickly. We will treasure all the joy he brought us."
The prime minister's father's death comes just one month after the birth of Florence Rose Endellion, his fourth child, while the family were on holiday in Cornwall.
Mr Cameron also thanked French president Nicolas Sarkozy for assisting his rapid trip to the hospital.
"We would like to thank Nicolas and everyone at the hospital who worked so hard to look after dad," the prime minister said.
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