Father’s Day – Dad raising eight kids alone reveals late wife’s 15 rules left for them
Today Ian Millthorpe, 56, is surrounded by his loving offspring as the clan gather around him to celebrate Father's Day, with wife Angie in their hearts and minds
IAN Millthorpe was devastated when he lost his wife to cancer in 2010, leaving him to raise all eight of their children alone.
“Luckily she made it easier for me,” Ian says, revealing a list of 15 parenting rules written by wife Angie days before she died.
From tips on bedtime rituals to vetting boyfriend and girlfriends, the rules – scribbled on a notebook – have guided Ian for eight years as a single dad.
Today Ian, 56, is surrounded by his loving offspring as the clan gather around him to celebrate Father’s Day, with Angie in their hearts and minds.
Former minor Ian lost his childhood sweetheart on 19 October 2010.
Angie started making preparations for her husband’s life as a single parent before her tragic death.
One morning, she surprised Ian by asking him when their youngest son was born.
After a couple of wrong guesses, Angie sighed and said: “You’ve got to know the kids’ birthday’s Mill. What if you forget one?”
She fetched a notebook and jotted down the birthdays of their eight kids.
Ian noticed the dates added to a longer list of parenting instructions, including pointers on hair care, ironing and playing out late.
Proud Ian now uses the same list to raise a new generation – his five grandchildren.
This year, Ian is celebrating Father’s Day with his family’s annual walk Thornwick Bay at Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire, where they’ll pay a visit to Angie’s bench and share memories.
He said: “We used to lay in that spot as teenagers looking over the bay, so it’s a perfect way to keep her involved.
“When we used to do the walk with Angie, she’d cook a medium rare steak back at home, with chips, onion rings, mushrooms and a sliced tomato.
“This year I’ll order that from a pub, where I’ll unwrap presents from the kids. My older sons get me Joop or Hugo Boss aftershave as a nod to Angie, as she’d always got me that from them.
“Ella usually gets me chocolates in spite of rule 14 – ‘Don’t give them too many sweets’. She’s found a loophole!”
The couple had three sons – Ryan, 32, Damon 29, and Reece, 27 – before Angie was diagnosed with breast cancer at 29.
Five years later, following the all-clear from doctors, they went on to have five more kids – Connor, 19, twins Jake and Jade, 15, Corey, 12, and Ella, 10.
But in 2008, Angie developed a persistent cough and was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.
The news prompted her to start preparing Ian to manage the day-to-day duties of looking after the kids.
Angie’s loving list has seen her children flourish. Twins Jake and Jade, 15, are studying for their GCSEs, Corey, 12, is doing well at secondary school and Ella, now 10, will join him in September.
Connor is learning joinery and plastering at college. Eldest son Ryan, a warehouse worker, is a few streets away while brickie Damon and window fitter Reece live on the same road as Ian.
Ella was just three when her mum died, but is set to leave primary school with a 100 per cent attendance record, the reports.
Ian goes on: “I miss Angie every day but I really did feel her absence during the birth of our grandchildren. She’d have loved hugging them, just as I do.”
“The hardest thing I’ve had to deal with is my health. I just want to do right by Angie and my kids. I don’t want to become a burden.”
But Ian kid’s couldn’t be prouder of their hard working dad.
Jade said: “He’s been so great and supportive. It’s because of him that I want to train as a social worker once I leave school. I want to make a difference to somebody’s life.”
Ella added: “He’s amazing and makes the best chicken curry!”
Returning the compliments, Ian said: “I’m very fortunate. I have a bunch of hard-working, caring kids. I’m really proud. My children talk about Angie every day, what their Mam used to do, what she used to say.
“I can never replace Angie – I don’t want to – but I’m determined to do everything that I can to make her proud of our family. Luckily she has made it easier for me.”
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.