Saying goodbye to Mike and Barry

This week is a sad one in two ways; we have to say goodbye to two good friends.

Mike was one of the porters here at the 'fun factory' He was big and loud and fun. Wednesday morning he came in, sat in his familiar place outside the sports hall and just quietly died. When a big rough rugby player of a guy dies, it is quite surprising to hear such an outpouring of affection for him. Although he had some sort of embolism in his brain about seven years ago, he had seemed in good health these days so his passing still came as a great shock. People are quite stunned. He was the same age as quite a few of us here, just 52, so it seems a bit uncomfortably close too. I shall miss him, a kind man who never complained, liked by all.

We lose Barry this week too, well, next week to be accurate. He is taking early retirement from his job in charge of 'X-ray spectroscopy', amongst other things. He is another man we shall miss more than we can know. I have been able to talk to Barry about any subject at any time over the whole 27 years that I have known him. He is never too busy for you, never judges you (not out loud anyway!) and I have never been let down by him. Although he is religious he does not sermonise or preach and he keeps a broad mind about other peoples' beliefs. I shall miss his advice whether personal, professional or musical. I hope to see him again on many occasions.