Paul was a huge influence during my teenage years and I am very grateful to him that a large part of who I am today is down to the few short years that we spent together. I have so many fond memories of lazy days spent at the Nine Ladies and Barbrook stone circles with only books, crystals and homemade chocolate brownies for company while listening to The Doors, Pink Floyd and Deep Purple. One of my favourite memories was of our trip to London with my sister Sarah to see Pink Floyd live thanks to my Uncle Ian and Auntie Roselle… quite a first gig for 3 young teens! Having made friends with the two young daughters of their keyboard technician for the tour we were so excited to be given backstage passes…though I was less than impressed when Paul was the only one to ‘almost’ meet David Gilmour while my sister and I stood in the long queue for the loos!!  This photo is from a holiday to France when it felt very out of character to see Paul’s ‘Jim Morrison-esque’ style of black jeans, black T-shirts and cowboy boots replaced with colourful summer shorts!

I am so grateful to have been back in touch with Paul for the past few years and to have been able to visit him with my family in 2018 after his first battle with cancer and to meet Tracie, Jamie, Margot and Loki. Paul’s sense of humour and bravery shone through right until the end and that is what I will remember most about him. I send my heartfelt condolences to Hazel, Ray, Deborah, Tracie, Jamie, Steph, Margot and the rest of Paul’s family.