Dear Rachel, I was shocked and saddened by the news of Rod’s passing and you and your family have my deepest sympathy.  I have been lucky enough to know Rod during his time at IDC, and considered him a friend as well as a highly respected colleague. Rod and I also shared a passion for Rugby, both of us having Welsh heritage and we went to many matches together over the years both in Cardiff and Edinburgh. One of my favourite memories of Rod was when we went to Barcelona for a conference in 2012, which spanned a weekend when Wales were playing England. Having been in a meeting with senior IDC people on the day of the match we were eager to find a bar which was showing the match. Wales for once won this match, and the bar was treated to the only two Welshmen singing and dancing in celebration, to the huge amusement of our colleagues from other parts of the world. Rod was one of the most positive and enthusiastic people I knew and that is how I will remember him.