Dear Derek,

So many stories, and so many memories from our time as good neighbours in Booth Avenue growing up.

I remember your cars, especially the beautiful red Ford Cortina 1600E, in immaculate condition, kept clean as a whistle in the garage ready for weekend trips out, I remember your Orange Ford Transit, the multi-purpose work and 'lets visit the tip' vehicle, which we used to frequent often on a Sunday morning, and back in those days you didn't need an advance appointment and me and Steve would come along for the ride and help empty the rubbish out the back when we arrived and in those days you could pull the van up right over the edge of the landfill hole , very exciting for two young boys :-) 

Me and Steve, driving you nuts in the back garden, playing cricket practice by throwing the tennis ball against the wall below the kitchen window and smashing it for Six, usually into next doors garden :-)

Playing football and cricket in the road in our street (yes you could do such things in the 80's :-) )and getting yelled at to come in for tea !!

Me and Steve foolishly entering the Sporting U's Fun Run (?) and you deciding to be our running coach and riding the cycle halfway round St Johns Estate as we upped our training distance bit by bit each session, finishing off with Lemon Barley Water for refreshments , it must have worked because when it came to the fun run it was a piece of cake ! 

Steve using the Sodastream on a Saturday to make home made 'pop' , oh yes !

You making us Saturday lunch snacks of fresh baguette with cheese and salad cream, bread was always the freshest and I can still taste it now.

You weaning me off sugar in my Tea......!!!! :-)

Me generally being a pain in the rear most of the time by always being around too much :-)

Thank you for helping to influence the man I later become, you were always a very calming influence on life in general and always willing to lend anyone a hand or offer advice, plus, it goes without saying that you did a wonderful job as father to Karen & Steve and they are rightly very proud of you.     

Goodbye Mr Special Man, and thank you for everything you did for me over many years.

Love from Darren Fewell