Feeling blue

My beloved godfather, Stuart Craig, died this week, at the fabulous age of 87.

He was my father's oldest friend; they'd been pals since meeting as Scout leaders in the early 50s, and their then girlfriends (later wives) were best friends too.

Personality wise, they couldn't have been more different - my dad was a very quiet, peaceful soul, whereas Stuart was a riotous, sociable bundle of fun. But the two of them had the same solid values, and their friendship lasted until my lovely dad died in 2001.

Even though Stuart moved his family down to Chorley over 40 years ago, he remained resolutely Scottish. Every time we went to stay, we had to take square sausage, 'proper' haggis, and some tablet. (I'm sure all of those things could be bought in Manchester, but uncle Stuart liked the idea of things being brought from home.)

He was the kindest, funniest man ever, and life will be that little bit less shiny without him......