Although we had written words we wanted to say, both Andy and myself knew we probably wouldn’t have the wherewithal on the day to say them. Andy had read my speech and Chris’s and it was agreed that Chris would be our spokesman.

 

 We are grateful for the time and effort Chris had put into his speech and the strength he showed to start this at least. If you have not already read this, please take the time to when you have a moment it can be found funnily enough under “Chris’s speech.”

             

 Although there are some differences of characters, such as Dave loved football and hated rhythm and blues, on these two subjects he was clearly wrong. The main stay of our likes, dislikes and approach to life is the same across us all. This is no doubt one of the reasons we gelled together so well.

 

 There is a tradition across most of the world to speak well of those who have passed onto a better place. However, we are Lancastrians typically proud, honest, but often stubborn and unforgiving people, right or wrong we speak the truth as we see it and we aren’t given to over exaggeration or the use of words just to please. Have this in mind when you read the words below:

 There are so many stories, I will leave the climbing stories to Chris and his team of merry men seeing as I get a nose bleed standing on step ladders, Andy is probably the best man to tell his stories of all night and then all day and then all night clubbing sessions.

 

 Though I will add from my perspective, Dave was always a happy chap never seen without a smile on his face but never more so than when he spoke about “climbing with the boys.” Then, as for Andy and Dave, they certainly where an amazing pair together. You could go into any bar in Manchester or Bolton and if they where there they would be easy to spot as they would have a big group of girls and boys round them as they danced and made everyone laugh. Anyone else would have got thrown out or beaten up by one of the boyfriends but not these two, everyone just played along. If I hadn’t have seen it with my own eyes I would never have believed it, but true it was.

 

 We had many, many great nights to pubs, clubs, restaurant’s and on holidays. As these pages fill up with stories, pictures, music or beautiful poems (Margaret) about Dave, it is clear that he was many things to many people but on top of all this he was a great friend to all of us.

 

 It’s took a while for me to add my thoughts, it could be said this was due to our busy modern lives, this is partly true, however we have also been doing and planning more in Dave’s memory in the interim. The other reason(s) this may have taken so long to write is that as we have all said there is a mixture of feelings after such a tragedy. It must be said these include negative feelings and anger. Although these feelings are ever present, as is always the case good prevails.

 

 We miss our mate Dave very much I would give anything for another hug and to sit down with him and talk rubbish like we did. This is my point (finally) Dave was many things to many people as mentioned already but to me as well as some of the things above, he was one of the easiest people I have ever known to talk to, about anything.

 

 He would never judge but knew the right time to make the right noises. Dave was comfortable to be with and you knew he would never let you down. As everyone agrees no one could ever have an argument with Dave it was simply impossible, he would always understand your point of view.

 

 It is crazy to think that one man who everyone loved so much should be taken away from us. Anger and despair are negatives but more than this I feel we where short changed, for us as friends and for Dave’s parents, family, Daniel, Sharon, all of us.

 

 There is a saying which goes “is it better to have loved and to have lost than never to have loved at all?” (Not in a gay way obviously). The answer is certainly and undeniably yes and from this I can take a great deal of comfort.

 

 Without doubt I can say that my life is better for knowing Dave. Not only for all the laughs and great times but also for all that I learnt from him in terms of his gentle, no confrontational, none aggressive attitude to the world. It’s a tall order for me sometimes but everyday I will try to aim towards this, in our friend’s memory.  I will finish with one story for now, which isn’t climbing or clubbing.

 Dave came with me to various gyms over the years for some training if there wasn’t much going on in the world of adrenalin sports. His strength was good for a bloke that was made out of string and he could do chin-ups with ease.

 

 Anyway, one particular tale concerns a night I took him to my “posh new gym” which had a pool and running machines. We did a few minutes weight training, I introduced Dave to everyone, they instantly liked him, standard stuff really. Next we went on the running machine, I had just done or was just training for another marathon but Dave was still running at a similar pace dressed in silly baggy shorts and a pair of trainers which I am sure could have run on their own, they definitely where alive that was for sure.

 

 Next we went in the pool, we changed and met in the fast lane. I had no idea Dave could even swim. I put on my goggles and set my stopwatch, looked around and Dave was by my side, however I could have sworn he was getting in the water last time I looked. “He had” he said, “ok, so what did you do, just get used to the water I asked?" “No” he said “he had swam to the end of the pool and back again” Oh dear! I thought.

 

 You see Dave, had as Dave would, listened to my stories about what a good swimmer I was but had never thought to even mention that he had swam for the County. He was, needless to say, faultless in his technique. This was Dave, as Chris alluded to also, a truly gifted individual who unlike the rest of us never bragged or boasted.

 

 Oh and just to add insult to injury Dave got out after a while and went to sit in the Jacuzzi, he probably got bored of beating me, no doubt., I continued to do my training after a while and once I had finished I went to join him in the Jacuzzi, where Dave proceeded to introduce me to two new girl friends he had made. This was Dave, no doubt everyone has their own reasons why they loved Dave but even if you never had the pleasure of meeting him for yourself, hopefully this has given you a small insight into why we miss him so much.

 

 

 Jon