Thank you for organising this.

I have the very fondest reminiscences of my time with my cousin Mark and his extraordinary family. Time spent with Mark always seemed to involve water, being outdoors, and a certain amount of excitement!

When he visited Cambridge (I guess he must have been about 16 and I was about 10) we found a half submerged raft in the river. We managed to re-float this primitive watercraft and then made a spirited and not perhaps not entirely ‘parent-approved’ expedition down the river.

I was also the owner of a weapon called a long-bow. Sweet Mark very kindly gave me the generous gift of a beautiful hand crafted and brass-tipped arrow for this weapon.

This present was the cause for more raised eyebrows with the powers that be. Although Mark reckoned that any suggestions that his present was perhaps not entirely hazard-free were ill-informed.

‘If you tried to shoot a rabbit with that arrow’ he drawled, as only Californians can, ‘The rabbit would grab it and throw it back at you’.

In California, there was more adventure. Mark introduced me to the art of riding waves in St Anofre and Churches. Catching waves with Mark as the sun rose; accompanied by dolphins; in places that I’d only heard of in the lyrics of songs by The Beach Boys is pretty much top of my list of memorable experiences.

Being given surfing lessons from Mark turned out to be another full bore experience. After another generous gift, this time a wet suit, with the owner of the store pretty much giving
the suit to Mark, such was his remarkable charm, we set off – Mark having invited a friend with a truck to provide suitable transportation of a suitable level of cool.

Mark gave me detailed instructions and then he was off, carving up the waves on his surf-board with a style that had my jaw dropping in amazement. He was incredibly athletic and strong and could ride waves in the most beautiful style.

‘You see those whirlpools in the water’, Mark would say, pointing at some lethal looking ‘boils’ that eddied in the water near where we were surfing. ‘Well, that’s where the reef is. You don’t want to go there’.

We would then all pile back into the truck, and cruise off to the drive-in where Mark would buy me a feast of cheeseburger with large fries. Mark is, and continues to be an inspiration to me; both physically, emotionally, mentally - and spiritually.

I’m truly grateful for the memories of some very special times.

Deepest sympathies.

Oliver Metherell