­My dear old dad passed away a year ago and the anniversary of his passing had me thinking about what money meant to him and how he helped me in the early stages of my career.

My first memory is being marched, almost literally, into the Midland Bank at Sixways in Charlton Kings to open a bank account into which my £7 per week starting salary could be paid. He knew the bank manager who filled out a couple of forms and hey presto! – I was on my way. Midland were taken over by HSBC, so the brand disappeared, followed by the availability of a manager, and then followed by all their branches. Dad didn’t agree with it particularly, but I was proud of the way he adapted to ‘talking to a machine!’

I allowed him to buy me my first suit

Our first debate over money was his desire to see his eldest boy off to a flying start with his career, very much against my insistence on independence. We compromised, and I allowed him to buy my first suit – I needed one for work and couldn’t afford it. But that was it. I was going my own way after that, yet always under his watchful eye to check I was doing ok.

As the years passed and I qualified as an accountant, I began to earn a decent salary and dad stopped asking me all those questions about whether I was coping financially. But it was reassuring to have someone on hand who cared and was there for me when I needed him.

Dad took early retirement and announced he was set for later life. He was a very private man about money and never shared the details of his income and expenditure. It wasn’t really until his final few years that he opened up fully, when he needed help with planning about how much he would need in his later years, or what he might be able to leave to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I was amazed – in a positive way – with how well planned his retirement kitty was.

A discipline and attitude that I wish I could bottle and share with everyone

He was never a wealthy man, but he knew how to make ends meet and still be able to help if a loved one needed him. It’s a discipline and attitude that I wish I could bottle and share with everyone – rich or poor, young or old.