Robert Daley

Born in Plymouth, he grew up to become an electrician. That all changed when he took his sons on a swimming trip when his oldest son Tom was a toddler. Tom went off the diving board many times. That inspred Rob to enrol him in diving lessons and... the rest is history. Rob became hugely devoted to Tom's diving career when talent was noticed at an early age. He accompanied him to training sessions and competitions. Later once Tom reached the national elite levels, he became even more devoted to the support of his son. His involvement with Tom's diving career helped Tom to achieve feats like the 2008 Euorpean Champion, 2008 British Olympic Team, 2009 World Champion and 2010 two-time Commonwealth Games champion. Despite his dedication to Tom, he was as equally committed to being a devoted husband to his wife Debbie and a dedicated father to his other two sons, William and Ben. While Bill and Ben were good in rugby, He would push for all of his sons to be good at school and maintain A-level grades. The media often depicted Rob to have the pushiness of a 'stage parent'. Tom's Olympic Teammate Blake Aldridge had words of criticism for him. The media's critique of him grew after the 2009 World Championships when Rob broke past the media to give Tom 'cuddles', much to Tom's embarrasment. One British diving official simply said: "Rob had just watched his 15-year-old son become Britain's youngest ever World Champion. He had not been able to congratulate him for nearly an hour. Rob was just being Rob. Passionate and proud." In 2006, Rob was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor the size of a fist. He underwent surgery to remove 80% of the tumour. The surgery left him unable to perform his electrician duties so he devoted his time to follow his son's burgeoning career. Rob had planned a summer vacation with his family until the news of the tumour returned. He returned to treatments and had to miss out on seeing Tom compete at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi for fear of infection. In February 2011, a second tumour was diagnosed. Despite the diagnoses and the stress placed on the family, especially Tom, he continued to fight and take the latest treatments. He had an unconquerable iron will to live to see tom at the 2012 London Olmpics: "London 2012 is a massive motivation for me. Am I going to be there? Tom is the oil in my lamp and he's going to keep me burning. I wonder if I'll make 2012, or see grandchildren. I do think 'why me?'." The cancer continued to take its toll but Rob's will to live couldn't be killed. Even after doctors told him he had two weeks to live, Rob continued with his treatments and his fatherly duties. The last competition he saw Tom dive at was an April 2011 World Series competition in Sheffield where Tom won Synchro gold. Rob said: "Even if I have to crawl on my hands and knees, I'll be there." However his condition deteriorated to the point Tom had to withdraw from an internation diving competition in Florida to be with him. In the end, Rob defied the doctors who said he had two weeks to live by actually living two more months. Even on the day before he died, he was helping Tom study for his driving test. He finally died at 21:35 GMT on 27 May 2011 at his Plymouth home with his family at his side. He was 40 years old. Tom wrote in his Twitter on the night of his death: "I love you so much dad. If I could be half the dad that my dad was to me then that would be my best achievement! I love you! Xx" Rob Daley will always be remembered a passionate and dedicated man. The city of Plymouth was as proud of him as they were of Tom. He was described by those who remembered him as a 'true Plymouthian' and a dedicated family man. The tears he shed after Tom won a major event were evidence of his passion and commitment. His funeral was held at the church he married Debbie--St. Mary's in Plympton--and it was filled with 200 attendees. His faith, courage, love and devotion will be remembered by all. Tom best summed his father up in a statement released the night after Rob died: "My dad was an incredibly brave man, completely dedicated to his family, with a love for all. If I could be half the dad he was, to my children, then that will be an achievement in itself. He died 14 months exactly to the start of the 2012 Olympics. I hope he will be watching and waving his big Union Jack in London from somewhere else. I love you so much Dad."