What will I remember most about Richard? Well, so much, but most of all his unfailing kindness and courtesy towards me always. Hospitable, friendly, attentive, too – but most of all kind. Angie and I have often talked about our trip to Alicante and Castalla. For some unknown reason Jean, Angie and I had a fit of the giggles every half hour throughout the whole weekend. (Maybe Richard slipped something into our morning coffee!) Jean has said her memory of me was my saying “it’s very arid” a few dozen times. My memory of Jean is of her saying to our guide at a particularly unenchanting housing estate “not only would I not stay here, I don’t know any member of my family who would stay here, nor any of my friends who would stay here; in fact I don’t know anyone who would stay here!”. Angie and I have always said our abiding memory of Richard was his unshakeable good humour in the face of these 3 giggling women and his kindness to us all. I am sure our guide was very grateful to this brave, long-suffering soul who managed to guide his flock of unruly sheep (or harem) through the weekend without losing his flock or his rag! There was one occasion at Castalla when we asked Richard to go to the flat downstairs and make a noise to see how much we could hear upstairs. Whether the bout of door slamming from downstairs that followed was Richard misreading the script or letting off steam, we weren’t sure, but he returned with the same smile on his face! I have been so very impressed by the way Richard faced the last couple of years. I will miss Richard – well, maybe not his jokes, well, yes, maybe even those! With fond memories.