We were so lucky to have the McCarthy family as close friends ’round the corner.’ We spent a number of summer holidays camping in France together, relished annual visits to Centre Parcs, where we played tennis in near dark, under spotlights. It was nerve racking to be on Alan’s side as he would say ‘this a crucial point you realise’ and then I’d panic! We played football where Alan insisted we could only stop playing if his team won! Scores of 36 - 37 were not unusual!! Over nearly 40 years we indulged in a huge number of chats over tea/coffee/meals. Alan excelled at chatting; small talk, big topics, interesting, informative, provocative, teasing and funny- very funny. Alan was a very dear friend, we will miss him greatly.