I was heartbroken to hear the news of ‘Big G’ as he was affectionately named by myself and some of the other street urchins that Rhian hung around back in her teenage years in North London. I still remember how friendly and welcoming Gareth and Shirley were when I first met them with my hooded pack of strays in tow. Most of our female friends wouldn’t encourage us to walk them home let alone come and meet their parents especially as Anthony looked like a 30 year old man when we were only 14!! I’m sure they must have regretted being so nice as I overstayed my welcome and then starting showing up most days straight from school and often needing Shirley to remind me that I didn’t live there and needed to go back to my own house so the girls could get ready for bed. Maybe it was not being able to get rid of me that forced the move to Hove? Rhian and I were close mates but I also quickly fell in love with the rest of the family. I would pass by even when Rhian wasn’t home. I loved chatting to Gemma and had a real soft spot for Robbie who I thought was the funniest kid I’d ever met. Gareth and Shirley were perfect to me. The time they had for us, the love on display and the playfulness with their kids, each other and all the strays that Rhian would bring home is something I wasn’t used to at my home and still to this day something I want my own son to see in me. Remember Connell?? I wonder what happened to him? I was always happy there. There wasn’t a lot of love at my own home and the Jones’ showed me what family life could be like. I still remember encouraging Gareth to embarrass Rhian and Gemma at every opportunity and especially remember us all teasing Gareth for acting like a celeb because he had been asked to do another segment on the radio. Gareth became a bit of a life idol of mine like only a very few men in my life. Loaded, intelligent, funny with the perfect family but most of all someone described as having time for everyone. And real time. He cared. He asks about you and your family and listens and remembers and helps. I hadn’t seen Gareth for years and I wish I’d said it to his face but some boys don’t have Dads to look up to and use as a bar for what they should be trying to achieve in life but some boys get to meet gentlemen en route that help them decide what sort of men they will try to be. You, Gareth along with a couple others have always been that for me. Rhi, Gem, Robbie and Shirl...I love you all and hope to see you once lockdowns are done and dusted. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️