This dad's late wife left him instructions for raising their eight kids

In 2010, Ian Millthorpe lost his childhood sweetheart Angie to cancer and faced the daunting task of raising their eight children alone - with five under the age of 14.

To help ease the burden, Angie compiled a list of parenting essentials for Ian, 56, to learn.

The widower said the 15-point list, which was later made into a bestselling book, has guided him through the last eight years without her.

He no longer needs to follow some rules - checking hair for nits and not letting the youngest bathe alone - but he sticks religiously to her guidance on vetting boyfriends.

Ian and Angie married in 1985 after falling in love at 14 when they met in the park in their hometown of Grimethorpe, South Yorks.

They had three sons, Ryan, now 32, Damon, 29, and Reece, 27, before Angie was diagnosed with breast cancer at 29.

Five years later, after being given the all-clear, they went on to have five more children – Connor, 19, twins Jake and Jade, 15, Corey, 12, and Ella, 10.

But in February 2008, Mrs Millthorpe - who never smoked - developed a cough that she couldn’t shake off and doctors found incurable cancer in her lung.

Brave Angie handed her husband a tear-stained note - a simple list of rules on how to bring up their eight children. 

It included simple pointers on bedtime rituals, having the kids indoors an hour before dark and limiting screen time.

Days later she lost her battle with cancer and died in hospital with her devoted family at her bedside in 2010.

Poignantly, the last bullet point - number 16 - was scribbled out, which after reflection Ian believes was a reminder to look after himself as well as the children.

In the summer, Ian still insists the children wear sunblock, just as his wife requested, and he does not allow them to eat too many sweets.

Ian still has the note that Angie wrote, and brings it out when necessary to remind the children of what their mother would have wanted.

He said: “For the first year, I was trying to teach them everything.

"Most of the things I stood by - even if their friends are playing out until 10pm, they come in at 8pm. The teenagers don’t hang around on street corners like other kids in town do.

“We've had to bend the rules with letting them spend an hour on the computer. If they have homework it's pretty difficult to limit it to just an hour. Especially as Jade and Ella are performing really well. 

"Also, it's so much easier to have them preoccupied in their bedrooms where computers are while I zip round and do the housework.”

Despite applauding the 15-point list, Ian now admits he would add one touching addition – ‘Don’t feel sorry for yourself’.

“The first month following Angie's death I was so low and was just moping around. I was no use to anyone”, he said.

“But then I realised I had to snap out of it as the kids were picking up on it.

“I miss her everyday but I really did feel her absence during the birth of our grandchildren. She would have loved hugging them, just as I do.”

But his hard work an diligence to sticking to Angie's list has seen the kids flourish.

Their youngest child, Ella, was just three years old when Angie died but is now about to leave primary school, with a 100 percent attendance record.

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“Ella's first Christmas nativity play particularly difficult”, he said.

“As I sat down to watch the play a teacher came over and said ‘Mr Millthorpe you are in for a real treat’. Then Ella came out and sung a solo number.

“I could see all the parents turning to look at me as she sung, I was almost in tears and I kept looking up wishing that Angie could see her little girl too.”

Twins Jake and Jade, 15, are diligently studying for their GCSEs, Corey, 12, is achieving good grades at secondary school and Ella, ten, is excited to join him in September. 

Connor i GCSEs C 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.

Despite carrying out the daunting task of raising eight kids Ian says the hardest hurdle has come from himself.

Having survived a brain haemorrhage in 2004, Ian now suffers with chronic lung disease after over 20 years as a miner. 

"The hardest thing I've had to deal with is my health. I have trouble breathing, even doing things like unloading the washing machine.

“I just want to do right by Angie and my kids. I don’t want to become a burden to them.”

But despite his self-doubt kids Jess, 15, and Ella, ten, sing his praises.

Schoolgirl Jess said: “He’s really been so great and supportive over the years. 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.”

Little Ella said: “He’s amazing and makes the best chicken curry!”