All sorts of people drift into and out of our lives but only a few make us sit up and take notice of their unique qualities. In my life, I will always remember Gary as being one of these people.
We first met when he joined SOL Civil Engineering in Colwick as a trainee Quantity Surveyor. He was probably about eighteen years old and he and I would drive around the East Midlands to visit various construction sites and do whatever it is Quantity Surveyors do. We were never short of things to talk about over a wide range of topics.
I rapidly became aware that he was exceptionally entertaining, intelligent and perceptive beyond his years, as well as possessing that rarest of qualities – a selfless heart of gold that really cemented the bond of trust and friendship between us.
We both knew his future was not best served by the Construction Industry so I encouraged him to follow his instincts into a career that was more in tune with his interests.
Whilst we both went our separate ways we kept in touch over the next twelve or so years, and I have retained some treasured exchanges between us on Facebook. Even after he’d had a few drinks his postings had to be grammatically correct!
Alas, I tired of Facebook and deactivated my account in 2014.
Yesterday I had the notion of getting back in touch and was shocked and saddened to learn of his passing. Such a loss of a wonderful person who was clearly loved by so many – including me.
Although I never knew his family and friends my thoughts are very much with them. We have all taken a body blow and we can feel it.
RIP Gaz. I told you it was a privilege to know you - and I meant it then, and today, and onwards even more so.
John
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