Dear Rupert,

I can’t believe you’ve gone… in body. You have not left my life in spirit… I remember you in so many ways:

Your dulcet tones in a meeting

Your kindness to newcomers

Meeting your lovely wife and beautiful daughters

Your willingness to give me and other careless AA people lifts

Our shared love of dogs- and remembering Brian

Doing schools talks together

Your support in my life through my own rollercoasters … and support of my first AA secretaryship in Ormond Rd when I was expecting Leo

Our forays to the theatre

Your help in facilitating counselling role plays for training therapists

Your wisdom, humour and beautiful turn of phrase

Your authenticity

Seeing you act- a genuine and scintillating talent

Your faith in the programme of AA.

I love you Rupert and my life was richer for you having been in it. I greatly regret not seeing more of you in the last few years. Nothing is promised… not time,  nothing. I regret that, but I have so many lovely memories… my son’s christening,  my son’s first birthday party… so many many things… including your support when friends of ours died of this disease. You gave me such a wondrous bear hug at Colin’s funeral… so many memories.

You’re a credit to AA. You helped so many of us.

See you on the other side, I hope…  Thank you.

Michele, Andy, Leo, Gatsby and Apollo xxx