David Lamb
19-02 2021 12:26
wrote:
I count myself lucky to have known Andy since we both started at Salesian College in Septemebr 1967 as two fresh faced 10 year olds..The picture attached is of our first time playing together in the under 11 football team. Andy was a natural leader, going from being captain of the under 11s to captain of the school and a leader throughout his carreer in the RAF and NHS. We were close friends throughout the years. Andy spent a couple of half terms at my house when his parents were away in Australia making a huge impression on my parents - so much so that at the age of 15 he was adopted by them as a role model for me. We had our first road trip together at the age of 16. At Andy’s suggestion, having finished our O levels, we set off to Austria for 10 days youth hostelling, travelling by train. In those days, wihtout mobile phones, no one knew where we were until we retuned home. It was a great trip based largely on German sausages and beer, which at 16 seemed to us to be the perfectly balanced a diet. As the comments on here prove, Andy was as authentic a person as you could hope to meet. He was a very loyal friend, but also very competitive, both academically and on the sports field. During out time in Austria, Andy’s father sent him a telegram with his O level results. I can still remember what it said - short and to the point. 10 1’s and one 2 (Add Maths). Fantastic results, but Andy and I both knew that despite his being the best results in the school, I had still managed to beat him in Add Maths - so our friendly rivalry continued! We played in some great football matches together - remember the 4-0 defeat of Salesian Bootle ? I was fortunate to be able to carry on playing with him during our time at university in London, despite us going to different universities. In our second year we somehow ended up playing for a team of Greek Kebab shop owners in North London whilst both separately playing for our universities as well. Then, in my third year, we shared a student house together in Catford. Andy was now captain of the 1st team at Guys and so it came to be that I ended up playing regularly for the Guys first team as well as my own university. As it happened, Guys managed to win the league that year! After university, as we started out on our careers, we continued to stay in touch, going to each other’s weddings and also to the weddings of our children. Andy , his wife Mary, myself and my wife Sally would meet up for supper a few times at year, and with Mark Dunning’s help, the three of us met regularly for a beer. Most recently just a few weeks before Andy’s untimely and very sad death. I think of Andy a lot. I wonder how I missed the signs of his illness and whether there was more I could have done to help. He was a really genuine friend and is missed by us all.
David Lamb
19-02 2021 12:26
wrote:
I count myself lucky to have known Andy since we both started at Salesian College in Septemebr 1967 as two fresh faced 10 year olds..The picture attached is of our first time playing together in the under 11 football team. Andy was a natural leader, going from being captain of the under 11s to captain of the school and a leader throughout his carreer in the RAF and NHS. We were close friends throughout the years. Andy spent a couple of half terms at my house when his parents were away in Australia making a huge impression on my parents - so much so that at the age of 15 he was adopted by them as a role model for me. We had our first road trip together at the age of 16. At Andy’s suggestion, having finished our O levels, we set off to Austria for 10 days youth hostelling, travelling by train. In those days, wihtout mobile phones, no one knew where we were until we retuned home. It was a great trip based largely on German sausages and beer, which at 16 seemed to us to be the perfectly balanced a diet. As the comments on here prove, Andy was as authentic a person as you could hope to meet. He was a very loyal friend, but also very competitive, both academically and on the sports field. During out time in Austria, Andy’s father sent him a telegram with his O level results. I can still remember what it said - short and to the point. 10 1’s and one 2 (Add Maths). Fantastic results, but Andy and I both knew that despite his being the best results in the school, I had still managed to beat him in Add Maths - so our friendly rivalry continued! We played in some great football matches together - remember the 4-0 defeat of Salesian Bootle ? I was fortunate to be able to carry on playing with him during our time at university in London, despite us going to different universities. In our second year we somehow ended up playing for a team of Greek Kebab shop owners in North London whilst both separately playing for our universities as well. Then, in my third year, we shared a student house together in Catford. Andy was now captain of the 1st team at Guys and so it came to be that I ended up playing regularly for the Guys first team as well as my own university. As it happened, Guys managed to win the league that year! After university, as we started out on our careers, we continued to stay in touch, going to each other’s weddings and also to the weddings of our children. Andy , his wife Mary, myself and my wife Sally would meet up for supper a few times at year, and with Mark Dunning’s help, the three of us met regularly for a beer. Most recently just a few weeks before Andy’s untimely and very sad death. I think of Andy a lot. I wonder how I missed the signs of his illness and whether there was more I could have done to help. He was a really genuine friend and is missed by us all.
