Graham lived in the next road to me in Rainham. I didn't know him then – but that was obviously my loss, as the account of his youth tells of a man who loved life, and who was both creative and practical, and full of fun. He continued to be fun to live with, and be with throughout his life, and we all have many happy memories of those times that we were privileged to be with Graham. He didn't do things by halves, and if you look at the website which Emma has set up in memory of her dad, you can read an account from the Egan family (now living in Canada), of how Shane helped Graham build that barbecue of which he was so proud, and on which he cooked excellent, sometimes unexpected meals for many of us before finally succumbing to the juice of the grape at the end of the evening. I remember golfing occasions – Shelduck chicks following Graham along the first fairway on the Dunes – some rather indifferent golf in France – and of course the big breakfast on the ferry on the way over – the pro-sized golf bag and the motorised trolley to support it – his Captain's drive in and the pride he took in wearing the blazer – and those plus two's! I think it was Dick Dunkley who told him he was not impressed with Graham's golf one morning – in fact he thought it was crap – I didn't think it was that good was Graham's answer. Other memories which stand out are of quiz nights in the club and trivial pursuit evenings in King's Avenue, with Rae and I, and often with Pat and Joe and a great deal of noise and laughter. That's the thing about Graham – he was always ready to laugh – at himself or at someone or something else. He was a generous man, a kind man and a gentle, sensitive man. He called on me one day, and as he walked up the path he noticed the lupins growing to one side. Lupin leaves grow upwards. Dew or rain water had collected in the bottom of the leaves, and Graham said 'look at that, they're like fairy mirrors.' And of the many emails we exchanged, almost daily at times over the past few years, some contained humorous stories, some cartoons (often in French), but many more were collections of fantastic photographs of nature in all its beauty from around the world. A man who loved the world around him. In 1992 we persuaded Emma to take part in the Mystery Plays in the Cathedral, and she bagged the plum job as God's (Peter Barkwoth) angel. We knew that Graham was coming to watch, so we told the cast that Pavarotti would be there that night, and as Graham walked in, a number of them really thought it was Luciano! And he loved his cars, as we heard from Andy – remember the Rolls Royce, and the blue Bugatti – not the largest car in the world, and when Graham sat in it, it looked like a child's pedal car. Yes, he was a big man – with a big heart – and we shall all miss him Nikki IN A BIG WAY