Dear Peter,

It was good to speak to you the other weekend and I was sorry to hear that you had been unwell. I tried contacting you the following Sunday, but you were sadly passing away from us. Paul gave me the news the following morning.

This weekend you were due to play golf at Saunton. We are back in action there at long last after our 8-week layoff. Both courses are in fantastic condition, but you wouldn’t like the rough, absolutely penal after our wet winter and sustained period of sunshine, I would have advised that you carried a few extra balls. It is a weird time, no rakes in the bunkers, and with balls bound to roll into the size 13 footprints, foam in the cups to stop the balls dropping. Anything within a putter length, which you used to generously give, is now also given by my regular golf partner, although he knows that I stand just as much chance of missing those as I do from 12 feet.

I passed on the news to the Elmbridge OB society. I was pleased to have gone with you to the Ashwell’s Road reunion last year, and thanks for the hospitality afterwards. This last week I have been racking my memory of times together, but while our mutual Dad’s knew each other from Marconi and I was aware that you were at Elmbridge, I don’t think our paths really crossed there. You were down in Forest dormitory, and I was up in Fairlop, and you tended not to venture too far from home territory. You were a couple of years above me, I think. However, I did remember that young looking Lawrence photo you showed me, no doubt our paths crossed on the way down to Cranleigh, an assembly, or a tuckshop queue.

It was really at the Old Brentwoods when we became great pals, football on Saturday, beers, curry and more beers afterwards. Then, at the flats in Shenfield and Holland’s wine bar on the way back from town. I enjoyed our occasional beer and (more) curry around Fenchurch Street when I was working over in Moorgate. They were a great 10 years, and then I drifted-off and was out of touch for the next decade or so.

I now bitterly regret the absence of time, perhaps that is a bit of a wake-up call, not to keep putting off those things which you keep on reminding yourself to do. Victoria found a few old photos which had been kept from 30 years ago, as you will see I never mastered the focus. The one outside HM Prison must have been on Easter tour, you are center stage of course, Dave ready for action, and Buddha taking a nap.

Farewell, dear friend, I hope your last trip runs smoothly tomorrow.

Kindest regards - Andrew, Andy, Jeff, or Spider - whichever you choose