By the time I was 22 I had three daughters and back then money was an issue; we didn’t have any. But what we did have was love and over the years I’ve been blessed that my children have been close to me and are still so now. When they were little I was an extremely proud daddy and delighted in taking them out all in their pretty frocks with their hair in ribbons.

Of course now they are all grown and our relationships have naturally changed but the lovely thing is that at 58 I’m still Daddy, and that’s priceless.

Having lived in and visited countries where women and girls are treated dreadfully I know only too well that both me and my children are lucky to have been born in a society which respects our fairer ones; there have been times when I’ve literally grieved for the less fortunate.

Today I’m celebrating my daughters and the enrichment they have brought to my life.