I first met Andrew when we were both in hospital, in Mascalls Park. It got near Christmas and I decided to pay for me and another patient to go for a Christmas dinner in the public canteen. It seemed a good chance to escape the ward. On the day the other guy told me 'Sorry, Richard. I'm going to my flat in Dagenham today.' Andrew said 'I'll come for the Christmas dinner with you.' We had a really good time and had lots to talk about and we were friends ever since. The Christmas dinner seemed very civilised compared to what we were used to there.

Once I was round Andrew's. He asked 'What are you up to next week?' I said 'I'm going to Lord's with my brother and two other relatives.' The next time I saw him, Andrew asked 'How did you get on at Lourdes?' He was quite offended that we'd only been to watch England v Pakistan! Andrew was often funny but always decent. from Richard Watts