Farewell

Our neighbour Gavin died on Friday. He had been ill for several months, with what was eventually diagnosed as cancer of the osoephegus. He’d been away in hospital for about two months, and died so suddenly and unexpectedly that his family were unable to get to his bedside in time.
We didn’t know him well – nobody here did, I suppose. he was oner of those people who, as they say “kept himself to himself”. He was shy, uneasy in company, not talkative. But he was friendly, nodding to us, giving us lifts if he was passing in his Forestry Commission van. Occasionally he would stop to talk quite lengthily with Brian, about motors and football and other safe topics.

He was a member of our lottery syndicate here, the one I’m in charge of. When he went into hospital, we kept his share going. Last night, our ticket came up a winner. No – not a jackpot – just a tenner. But when I checked the winning line, I discovered they were Gavin’s numbers. I’ve had a talk with the others and we’ve decided that a good way to use the money would be to plant a tree here in Gavin’s memory. Carol is going to check with his family, to find out if he had any favourites in trees – he was a forestry worker, after all – but if not, then we’ll buy a damson.

He was, I think, a good man in his quiet way. He certainly had no harm in him. A tree for him would be nice