Uncles come in all shapes and sizes. They can be more like friends, or just older people you know. They can even be like an extra dad sometimes.

In centuries previous, a man would offer to marry the widow of his dead brother, to provide them with a stable man in the house and a male influence for the children.

You don’t hear of that much these days, which is a bit of a nod to the whole ‘women are independent and clever thinkers, likely smart enough to find someone else is that’s what they want’ movement.

These days, uncles are more likely to be simply the fathers of your cousins, and friends to you and your parents.