Thomas was like a brother to me. He was such an amazing bloke and it is so sad that he was taken far too early from us.
We first meet when we were 16 at college. I think both being Cypriots we had a natural connection with one another and though from opposite sides of the Turkish Greek divide sparked up a great friendship. During our first week at college, we had to work in pairs to learn how to use the photocopier by making different size of £5 or £10 notes. Tommy and I were partnered up and that was the start of our friendship.
Over the next few years, we spent a lot of time together. He was great company. A funny, kind bloke. Some of the memories I have of Thomas are of him being the best man at my wedding and misplacing the wedding rings. He did also get to drive a Porsche for two days as my wife to be had hired one as a surprise to take me to the wedding, and he said he had a great time cruising from North London to Kent. How much he loved Prince, we saw him perform at Brixton Academy and I remember him dragging me along when he had a shop at Camden Town in the rare hope we may see him.
Us being in the audience for a TV chat discussion show together – the Time and the Place – with Tommy being asked to sit in the front row, with the rest of us from college, helping to give the audience an ethnic mix sitting in the back rows. One eventful New Years’ eve, where we broke down in his car on the north circular in a really bad spot. We were not popular with many drivers that evening. Him crashing his car when he spotted a spider crawling up his leg! Him liking to remind me when he didn’t find me funny that I was only a visitor in his country and could easily be removed.
Over the years we saw less of each other, but our friendship remained strong and it was always such a great pleasure to see or talk to Tommy. I’m so sorry I was not there for you more Tommy in the later years of your life, but you will always have a special place in my heart my Cypriot brother. I look forward to meeting you again in heaven where I have no doubt you and Prince are hanging out.
Thomas was like a brother to me. He was such an amazing bloke and it is so sad that he was taken far too early from us.
We first meet when we were 16 at college. I think both being Cypriots we had a natural connection with one another and though from opposite sides of the Turkish Greek divide sparked up a great friendship. During our first week at college, we had to work in pairs to learn how to use the photocopier by making different size of £5 or £10 notes. Tommy and I were partnered up and that was the start of our friendship.
Over the next few years, we spent a lot of time together. He was great company. A funny, kind bloke. Some of the memories I have of Thomas are of him being the best man at my wedding and misplacing the wedding rings. He did also get to drive a Porsche for two days as my wife to be had hired one as a surprise to take me to the wedding, and he said he had a great time cruising from North London to Kent. How much he loved Prince, we saw him perform at Brixton Academy and I remember him dragging me along when he had a shop at Camden Town in the rare hope we may see him.
Us being in the audience for a TV chat discussion show together – the Time and the Place – with Tommy being asked to sit in the front row, with the rest of us from college, helping to give the audience an ethnic mix sitting in the back rows. One eventful New Years’ eve, where we broke down in his car on the north circular in a really bad spot. We were not popular with many drivers that evening. Him crashing his car when he spotted a spider crawling up his leg! Him liking to remind me when he didn’t find me funny that I was only a visitor in his country and could easily be removed.
Over the years we saw less of each other, but our friendship remained strong and it was always such a great pleasure to see or talk to Tommy. I’m so sorry I was not there for you more Tommy in the later years of your life, but you will always have a special place in my heart my Cypriot brother. I look forward to meeting you again in heaven where I have no doubt you and Prince are hanging out.
