My first memories are Donald and Neville arriving at our house in Edinburgh in 1960 with baby Judith. I must have been about 6 years old and was in awe of the baby. 

Over the following few years we used to travel down frequently to Sutton Coldfield to visit - with my sister Sybil and my father Alan who was Donald's older brother. We used to travel down for half terms and loved being taken for walks with Donald. Sutton Park in particular I remember well. I also recall bonfire nights there - Donald had made a bonfire in the garden and we set off fireworks which was so very exciting and dangerous as Neville would remind us!

Donald  and family had holidays in Northumberland and we would also visit them in Northumberland from Edinburgh, in particular I remember a trip to Rothbury when they were staying there. I must have been about 8 or 9 years old. Donald set us a task of finding a dry haystack. With much enthusiasm we searched and felt under so many haystacks. The prize of 10/- ( ten shillings ) kept us occupied most of the day until finally we found a dry one and got our very generous prize.

When we moved to Southampton the Cochran family visited...it was chaotic but fun with 7 children. My favourite was a trip Sybil and I made to Kelsall on our own as teenagers. Donald and Neville looked after us so well and treated us like adults. 

Over the past 40 years David and I have enjoyed meeting Donald when he and Neville travelled to Northumberland and visited us when we were living in...Warkworth, Longhirst Village, Harbottle, Newcastle upon Tyne and Whitfield. Neville always used to bring a home made cake and Donald had so many stories to tell and walks to recommend.

Our last meeting with Donald, was in Northumberland on Lindisfarne in late December 2019. We walked up to Lindisfarne Priory after a Pub lunch on the main land. It was a good last meeting. The word Covid wasn't part of our vocabulary yet! Donald was in good spirits and managed the steep walk.

I shall miss the phone calls from Donald - he always had an interesting opinion  on whatever we discussed.

Much loved, and a great loss.

Christina