These are some of the people that I have been privileged to know over many years and who have been a big part of my life.
I thank them all for their loyalty, their kindness and generosity and their understanding and longsuffering if I have ever been a pain (and I think that I probably have !). I thank them too for their sense of humour, the laughter we have shared and the glasses that we have raised (and emptied !). I thank them for all the experiences that we have enjoyed together, for being my friends and for making my life better by being in it.
Wall of Gratitude
Steve (photo dated Oct 2006) : My old mate from the Brethren ! We first met when we were randomly seated next to each other at a "3-day meeting" (shudder !). We laughed at exactly the same things and then found out that we also had certain "worldly" habits in common - like smoking, drinking, going to cinemas and frequenting Brands Hatch at every available opportunity. Big sins in those days !
That was way back when we were about 17 and some 40 years on we still laugh at the same things although we have both stopped smoking (me in 1994 and Steve finally in 2005) and have not been to Brands Hatch in years - ah, how much sweeter was the taste of the forbidden fruit !
We now pursue more leisurely activities, in particular videoing steam trains. It is strange that we didn't know we shared this interest until we were in our late 40's ! Now it is something I always look forward to - days filled with idle chat, reminiscences, consumption of food that is normally not on the menu and general silliness. The time never drags and afterwards we hopefully have some good footage to play with. Amazingly we have never had a day washed out by rain and have had some great weather even in September / October when most of the preserved railway lines have their gala days.
Steve and his dear wife Lynne, who I have also known for over 30 years, are dedicated to their three daughters, Lee-Anne, Nicky and Stephy and I have huge admiration for the way they lead their lives uncomplainingly, while dealing with difficulties that most of us can't even imagine. Nicky is my god-daughter and a lovely girl - she has recently started her own hairdressing business and I know will do very well.
Sidney (photo dated Jun 1984) : Salesman extraordinaire, friend and mentor. I first met Sidney and his wife Jytte in 1978 and the 6 years that I worked with them from 1980 to 1986 were the highlight of my working life. It was an exciting time in the industry and a pleasure to have been involved in the early years of the success of Scan Q & Labofa in the UK. Sidney & Jytte were unfailingly kind and generous to me at a time when in a way I was still coming to terms with life on the outside. I spent many long and happy hours at their house and in their company.
I think Sidney has forgotten more about selling than I will ever know ! I learned a huge amount from him about selling and about business in general. I must also mention our memorable visit to Chicago in June 1984 when we got so drunk on the plane over that we were unable to collect the hire car from the airport !
When we did pick the car up it was a rather cool Lincoln Continental and we did quite a bit of touring round the city in between visits to the exhibition centre. The contrasts were huge with very affluent areas to the North along Lake Michigan and run-down areas on the other side of the city which we were pleased to get the hell out of ! There were many other memorable moments, including the one when the old lady flashed her tits at me through the car window - the vision still haunts me !! I have included a few photos of the trip.
I am delighted that I still keep in touch with Sidney & Jytte and see them perhaps a couple of times a year. I enjoy the visits to the Indian haunts around Edgware where the food is excellent. I am also looking forward to going with Sidney to see Tottenham play at home one day !
Simon : My flat mate for 3 years and an all round good egg - less of the round I hear him say ! I had the good fortune to know Simon at the time when I was looking for somewhere to live and he was thinking about moving out from his parents home. The flat we shared at Buntingford from 1977 to 1980 holds many memories for us and for many others as well I would imagine ! The parties were legendary and the state of the ceiling in the shop underneath was testament to the fact !
We have shared many a drinking session over the years, some with historic results as on the occasion when Simon almost went back on the ferry to France after a particularly heavy session on the white wine ! More recently I understand that he fell asleep on the train in the early hours of the morning and overshot his station. Having got a taxi driver to take him to a cash machine to get some money for the fare home, he then proceeded to get his pin number wrong on three consecutive occasions causing the machine to retain his card. In the heat of the moment he elected to "do a runner" and ended up negotiating the 7 miles home on foot, along dark unlit roads with the sole aid of the illumination from his Nokia phone !! Time of arrival home - 04:00 am !
Simon has been through some tough times but always carries himself with dignity and looks for solutions that work for everybody concerned. I always enjoy it when we meet up and wish him a full recovery from his recent illness.
Fiona : Female friend & confidante - my favourite girlfriend ! I first spoke to Fiona on the telephone in 1983 and remember how easy she was to talk to and how well she listened too. When I met her in that same year, I could not have imagined how our business relationship would develop and last for over 20 years. I am honoured to have worked so closely with her for so long and am very proud of some of the results we achieved together. I also enjoyed the many lunch hours (occasionally extended !) which we spent variouly in Bubbles, Finos, Daveys and sundry other establishments !
I could also not have know when I first met her how close we would become as friends and how much time we would spend together socially. I have seen Fiona hit highs and lows in her life and she has suffered much recently with the loss of her husband Trevor who brought her much happiness. I know that eventually she will be able to rebuild her life because she is such a positive person. I hope that I will always keep the relationship that I have had with Fiona for so long - she is more than a sister to me, even though I have two natural ones.
Matthew : Long-time friend and my most regular drinking buddy ! I have know Matt for about 25 years since we worked together briefly @ Scan Q. He is bright and witty and is also known occasionally to say something first and think about it afterwards ! We still laugh at the time when he visited my flat in Radlett ..
We have both experienced the highs and lows of working for yourself in a small business and over the years we have discussed decisions, shared information, compared notes, celebrated orders and commiserated on bad debts. It has been a joy to be able to talk to someone who really understands what it is like but apart from that we both enjoy a few drinks and both probably have lush potential !!
It might be a mistake to try to calculate the number of beers we have enjoyed together but let me have a go anyway ... in the good old days we sometimes managed to meet up 5 nights a week but if we take an average of 2 nights a week for 50 weeks a year over 25 years @ 3 pints a seesion, that works out at at 7,500 pints !!! That might be exaggerating a rather worryingly I bet it's over 5000 ! Here's to many more sessions Matt - cheers !
Maurice : Off the wall at times but fun & a thinker underneath. I met Maurice way back in the mid seventies. Sharing the same fate of premature greying, we have evn been mistaken for brothers on occasions, although I have never been able to compete with him in the girth stakes !
We also share the same quest for perfection, both at work and at home and can be obsessed with details ! We see this as a good thing, particularly when compared to the alternative of the "that will do" approach. Drinking and gambling (in moderation !) are another two shared pleasures and we have enjoyed the £ 150.00 payout on the fruit machine as well as the occasional winner in the Grand National.
I have huge respect for his endless enthusiasm, energy and optimism which has seen him through some hard and difficult times.
I am very pleased that he has recovered so well from his recent illness and know that in Linda he has a soul-mate and someone who will care for him and share his dreams for the future. I hope we can always be in touch even if he does buggar off to Mallorca one day !
Steve (photo dated Oct 2006) : My old mate from the Brethren ! We first met when we were randomly seated next to each other at a "3-day meeting" (shudder !). We laughed at exactly the same things and then found out that we also had certain "worldly" habits in common - like smoking, drinking, going to cinemas and frequenting Brands Hatch at every available opportunity. Big sins in those days !
Sidney (photo dated Jun 1984) : Salesman extraordinaire, friend and mentor. I first met Sidney and his wife Jytte in 1978 and the 6 years that I worked with them from 1980 to 1986 were the highlight of my working life. It was an exciting time in the industry and a pleasure to have been involved in the early years of the success of Scan Q & Labofa in the UK. Sidney & Jytte were unfailingly kind and generous to me at a time when in a way I was still coming to terms with life on the outside. I spent many long and happy hours at their house and in their company.
Simon : My flat mate for 3 years and an all round good egg - less of the round I hear him say ! I had the good fortune to know Simon at the time when I was looking for somewhere to live and he was thinking about moving out from his parents home. The flat we shared at Buntingford from 1977 to 1980 holds many memories for us and for many others as well I would imagine ! The parties were legendary and the state of the ceiling in the shop underneath was testament to the fact !
