In Memoriam

Feet of snow and freezing blooming cold, “Oh how I hate this month”.

Here we are end of February, what a stinking lousy month it has been; always was a bad one my brother and father both died around this time. Now my best friend and my cousin both passed on.

First my friend Phil a great loyal and trusted mate, we had many fine times together in the 20 odd years I new him we have been through thick and thin times always having a good laugh at the quirks and foibles of life. He had a healthy cynicism of the world which somewhat coloured his humour but he loved the Simpsons.

When I started u my Private Hire business it was Phil who called me up and asked if their was anything he could do to help “What! ‘I said ‘mate you would be more than welcome” We worked on computer programmes together drove cars all over the UK and competed to see who could wear the most outrageous of ties, I insisted that a smart dress code was the order of the day.
Soon pressure of work and family ties made it more difficult for him to spend so much time helping me, but the Loyalty and friendship was always there if I had a problem he was the first one to offer help He never let me down.

Phil would stand no nonsense from anyone I admired him so much for the way he fought to keep his two girls when things went wrong for him. His fight with bureaucracy, the establishment and anybody else who tried to take them from him, his dogged determination and shear bloody mindedness finally won through, he has had the girls for only a relatively short time but what a Fantastic job he has done.
Phil was is and always will be a wonderful Dad

Goodbye old friend.


Gordon, had recently retired from teaching he was respected and loved by his pupils,
He loved walking and photography, and was of huge support to my cousin Jane with her endeavours within the guide movement and her troop in particular.

The time I spent with him was always special, if infrequent. I remember him for his dry sense of humour and his willingness to listen.

I will never forget how nothing was to much trouble for him. His kindness to my mother, he would never let her sit alone he would make sure that he had a good conversation with her he made her feel special, she in return loved him and was so proud of the pair of them.

As was his wont on retirement he started to put something back into the community driving the Mini Bus taking older folks to their appointments etc and had started working for the National Trust.

He always seemed to be so fit, so it was an enormous shock to learn of his heart attack

RIP Gordon 2010