Dear Old Friend 

So many stories. So many good times…

From meeting when we were 15/16 playing BasketBrawl at The Olympiad. Dreaming that we would become Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley. Trash-talking so much we could get Technical Fouls in a game we were only watching.
  
Catching some of our first waves in Bude on a freezing day with huge holes in our wetsuits. Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze - or so we thought.
 
Out on the town. Bad Boys. Convinced we were as fly as Will Smith - both realistically knowing we were more like Martin Lawrence. 
 
‘Withnail And I’ nights. You were the sensible and erudite ‘I’ influence. I was an occasionally problematic ‘Withnail’.
 
Watching countless hours of movies and sports together. A pair of amateur directors and coaches.

Lazy days listening to Oasis, Bob Marley and Ben Harper.
Playing consoles. Home-Run Derby - Ken Griffey Jnr, Barry Bonds or Mark McGwire for the big hits.

Busting our butts and getting beat up to win that Adidas StreetBall Tournament. The Wiltshire Directors’ Cut of White Men Can’t Jump.

Trying to keep a straight face when your dog Stella stole the entire roast chicken that your mum had lovingly prepared for us from the counter in the kitchen. We still had a delicious meal. You and your family always made me feel so welcome.

Helping to carry you home from your 18th Birthday after a pint of ’everything’ in one glass. Few would have dealt with the aftermath as cheerfully as you.

Working the summer together. Driving our van the long way around an entire Industrial estate at 2mph to ensure we didn’t have to do another drop before finishing time/beer o’clock…And that weird guy in the warehouse that somehow thought it was ok to wear Speedo’s on hot days!

Your semi-surprise leaving do at The Navy Tavern, and your face when unexpected guests appeared. 

University visits. Cold curry for New Years’ breakfast. 

The Munday-Morgan residence…

Most recently you came to my stag do. We hadn’t seen each other for a few years, but it was like no time had passed at all. Just like the old days. Effortless laughter. Conversation for hours. A reminder of the bond we have always had. 

I could go on forever, and I will whenever I get the opportunity to tell people what it means to have had a friend like you. 

You were such a positive influence. Quick to smile. Quick to laugh. I am eternally grateful that some of the most important and most memorable times of my life were shared with you. 


Thank you for everything, my Dear Old Friend