He was just the coolest Uncle a boy could wish for. Every time he & Terry would visit he'd announce his arrival with "Alright Blue !", plonk me in the passenger seat of his newest classic car, and infuse me with leather, petrol and speed as soon as he was allowed. Usually with the proviso "don't tell Terry how fast we went", but I was normally grinning too much to be able to talk anyway ! As I progressed from teen to driving age, we established an unspoken rule, that any new car must be driven by the other at the earliest convenience. Something we've never broken. Al was always the voice of reason in the background to Terry's more forthright style of guidance - she was my doting Godmother after all ! Always the Uncle Al that showed me the path to naughtiness, gave me the reasons not to take it, then proceed to sprint off up it himself - usually in a convertible two-seater. As I got to know Al as a man, I realised just how many friends he had, and how respected he was by so many different acquaintances. A true master in the art of conversation, we spent many nights putting the world to rights by the fire in their cottage, away from the watchful gaze of Terry as she slept upstairs. Al always made me feel that he kept a little bit of love just for me, something I'm sure many of us have felt from him. I will miss his phenomenal ability to swear without causing offence (even my Mum says it's not swearing when it comes from Al !). I'll miss his infectious laugh. I'll miss his disappointment in the shine on my shoes. I'll miss thrashing cars around the Welsh country roads with him. I'll miss a friend, that always had time for me, and me for him. A true gentleman and a truly gentle man. Take it easy Uncle Al x