I’ll always remember you my good and faithful friend. Soon after you moved to Gravesend Grammar School in the 3rd year, when playing football during a school break, I fouled you crudely and dangerously with a tackle. I must admit, and you knew it, it was premeditated - you were just too good for me ! We both fell to the ground, you picked me up literally by the neck, told me in no uncertain terms never ever to do that again, and put me down again. It was over in a flash and a lifetime of close friendship was borne. I certainly knew never to mess with you again !
From that moment onward we developed a close bond with our shared interests like football and music and - dare I say it - the opposite sex.
Playing football rather than rugby at our elitist school was shunned and discriminated against. So we formed our own team to play in a local over 16s league, funded the cost of a pitch, referees, etc ourselves. We even went on to be runners-up in the Leagues Cup competition. Fortunately, most probably, some of our other plans never saw the light of day - like quitting school after O levels and moving to London to share a flat together to enjoy an anticipated bohemian lifestyle !
We’ve grown up a bit together since then. We’ve shared each others weddings, the birth of our children, holidays, our careers, and then grandchildren. Through all of this I believe we’ve always known that the mutual trust we have in each other has been absolute, we’ve always had each others backs, and shared a lot of fun and friendship - together with Maureen and Yvonne - along the way. You’re absolutely unique and irreplaceable as a friend and I will miss you but you’ll always be in my thoughts.
Dob/David
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