But it wasn't all gloomy

We also celebrated Nicole's 40th birthday. Nicole has taken enormous steps and turned her life around since I first met her - she is unrecognisable now as the same woman - and is a wonderful mother to her baby son. In spite of the tragedy of the weekend her life deserved to be celebrated - although she struggled to hold back the tears as she blew out her candles.

What was especially wonderful, and I admit slightly surprising to me, was that, although Andy was a quiet background sort of person, everyone I spoke to last night had their own story to relate. He affected a lot of people and leaves behind many good memories.

A happier day: Andy before his baptism last summer. And remembering him.