Tommy
Where to start – well I guess our friendship started later than our school days as Tommy was a few years below me ‘one never spoke to years below you, we met a few times after our school years as my friend Ian had a brother Neil – NO not Neil but Neil who was in the same class, now you see its confusing – hence Neil Bennett Became Benny and Neil Tomlinson became Tommy. Our friendship grew.
I always had the greatest of respect for Tommy, he was never judging and always happy and with a great sense of humour… – well he could “take it” – even when I changed his Black Tie invite to ‘Cross dressing’ only he and a few others arrived as he had envisaged but as soon as they walk through the doors they laughed, as did we! He could also “give it” he had a great gift for public speaking, his speeches were legendary and could be very embarrassing for you but would NEVER offend you.
A few years back he could not keep his house sale chain intact and lost the house he was buying – I said “sell your house, pocket the money come and stay with me for a bit….” Well 6 -9 months of men behaving badly, beach parties with blow up palm trees, poker nights, my sons were with me weekends and they looked forward to it no end. His cooking was to become legendary, with Tommy Chunky Chips and Tin Can wonders.
One passion he did have was for opulence especially at the expense of others! I have a 1968 E type Jaguar, or should I say I owned and maintained it Tommy drove it. I could tell what was coming it would go “Olly I was thinking, I have a cricket match and…” – by that point I knew it was show off time. Or “…the sailing club have a car rally and…” yep you guessed it. I seriously think he did more miles in it than I did. I know he burnt out more clutches than I ever have – but that’s another story. He even borrowed it for his wedding – What? you didn’t know he was married? Nor did he, the group were going to Angouleme in the south of France racing our Austin 7, Tommy and Simon decided they would divert for a few days via the wine regions. As we waved them off this sign happened to fall down. They waved so happily to the macho French lorry drivers beeping at them in appreciation, they thought, of such a wonderful car which went on and on for several hundred miles never realising!!! All I got on the phone that night was ‘You Bastard!’
Tommy was a great friend to myself my sons and Fiancé. One in a million Never forgotten.
There may or may not be angels but there is a little of him now in me which will never leave me.
Damn he’s had the last laugh ….. what about the wedding speech you were going to write for me !
Tommy As Pauls Best Man