Vince, or Vinny as we used to call him then, was my best friend at primary school. Who could fail to get along with someone as kind, generous and spirited – an unusual combination – as he was. We lived only two roads apart and went to school, cubs and altar boys together. And talked for hours. We met up again in our forties when we had young families and tried to see each other regularly, but Vince's commitments to work, family, church, the Thames river ferries, singing and much else made it difficult to sustain. I am very sorry I did not see him through his illness because I did not know about it. He was a really lovely man – as so many people will testify.