For my buddy

There is no way to convey the sadness I feel in my heart for my good friend Gyles. He sadly passed away on this day, 22nd September 2008. Even more choking is the fact he leaves his Wife,daughter and his new born son not forgetting Mum,Dad,Brother and whole host of good friends not least his best buddy Chris. I know, they all love him very,very much.
He hung on for almost a week.How that has been for the family, I can only imagine, It was bad enough for me. I dreaded this day, and every time the phone has rung, my heart leapt into my mouth.

Of course such an event makes a man question his reasons and motivation for taking part in such crazy things as racing. After a few conversations with some very long time racers, and my wife, I have decided to race next weekend at Brands Hatch and I will do so in Gyles' honour. His race number is 39. I will be running it on my bike for him.

I know this was a favourite shot of his

I guess I don't need too many fingers to count how many people have touched my life in a positive and significant way. Not to mention how many I could consider a real friend. I feel privileged to know this Guy and to have become good friends. I could write pages on his good qualities. He certainly enhanced my life. Living at totally opposite ends of the country meant that apart from race meetings, we never got to spend time away from the circuit together. I regret that immensely. I guess we made up for it on the phone and through e-mail, my wife calling us a pair of old women, chatting away.

I remember our first meeting at the race licence test day. We were moving in opposite directions in the pit lane on our bikes. We both stopped, looked at each other, shook hands and chatted briefly and promised to look out for each other at our first race meeting. It was then I knew we would be mates. We always pitched up together. It will never be the same again.

Gyles, I love you and will deeply miss you buddy.