On 9th May, 2014, I received a text message from my good and loyal life long friend Graham, telling me of some extremely sad news. His words came as a complete shock!" I have just been diagnosed with a with a brain tumour. Have to go back to the hospital on Tuesday to see what is happening." I was totally devastated! Sadly just two weeks later he was given the news. It was terminal and given a time frame of just 12 months. Graham stated to make a bucket list of things he wanted to do.

1/ He wanted to return to Spain, to see the new friends he had just made. He had just recently retired and after moving to his caravan at  Lavernock Point, had spent four months in Spain with his wife and dogs. Sadly though, he  managed only the one trip.

2/He was a life long fan of the Beatles and wanted to travel to Liverpool to visit the "Cavern Club"  plus various "Beatles" haunts.

3/As a big fisherman in our early years, Graham wanted to take his grandchilden on a boat fishing trip to West Wales.

There were a few other things but sadly Graham's disease spread quickly and aggressively and just a few weeks later he was told it could be as short as four weeks.The  Beatles tour was the only thing he managed. My wife Debra and I were so lucky to spend this special time with Graham and Ann in Liverpool. It was Amazing.

The people of Liverpool were so friendly and  we were able to manage the whole tour. The fact that Graham had his own motorised scooter gave him the independence he needed

Graham was also a life long fan of "Only Fools and Horses" and a chance search of the internet by myself, found the original vechicle used in the Christmas special,  Batman and Robin. I had  only just to buy it!  Two weeks later I picked up my good friend Graham,and proceeded to my house for  his surprise. Graham originally thought the car hidden under the dust sheets was the Delorean from "Back to the Future " However, after holding up his Batman costume he said "Its a Delboy car," I replied, "NO, it's THE Delboy car, as used in the "Batman and Robin" Christmas special". Despite being desperately ill, he put the batman costume on and we took the "plastic pig out ".He loved it.The car was the actual car used in the series and cost a fortune. I dont think the missus was very impressed when she saw it due to the amount of money i paidVery sadly, I lost my good friend Graham, just 9.5 weeks after he first told me the terrible news.

Graham was an incredibly generous man who helped many people over the years and I was very lucky to have had him as a friend. I thought I had played the last joke on Graham having him dress up as Batman, however at the family's request The three wheeler led the hearse on Graham's last journey, with me dressed as Robin. We arrived at the Crematorium  to a massive crowd of 200 plus of family and friends. Graham had requested that his funeral should be a celebration and everyone wear bright colours. Not a particularly religious person we were lucky enough to be put in touch with Sarah, from "Green Willow Funerals"in Dinas Powis. Sarah was the breath of fresh air we needed and was amazing. The service which took nearly an hour was full of laughter and tears. I have never been to a funeral with so much laughter and a true tribute to a very special friend. Graham had said his life was a gift and he was a very lucky man. However, I think Graham played the last joke,  as I stood up to share my memories, dressed as Robin, in front of a packed audience. Graham must have thought "what a Plonker".   The whole service was a truly incredible tribute to a very special and generous man.   I bought the "Plastic Pig" with the intention of giving Graham a very special day ,which truly was achieved.

 I have been running a charity called the "Hat Foundation" raising funds and helping children in "Sri Lanka" for the last seven years, However, due to workloads and  recent events I have decided that 2014 i will have a break and help closer to home for a while

I will then use the car to raise funds in memory of my good friend Graham and also my Incredible Dad "Desey" who had died March 2013.

Dad was a fantastic father who had worked all his life to support my mum and four children. Dad was the most unassuming  man you could meet. I cannot remember my dad ever swearing. He had old fashioned high standards which I admired. I cannot ever remember having an argument with my Dad, he was not the type of person you could argue with. I have huge admiration for my dad for bringing a large family up and working hard all his life.

Eventually over the year with the help of my daughter daughter and my good lady we managed to raise £9000 for marie curie; Much to my wife's surprise i eventually sold the car and made a "nice lttle earner".Sad to see it go but was moving house in 2017 and needed the money and a rest in order to mve home.

Cavan. Aka Wav

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