I was sorry to hear about Andy too. He was a very kind man who was devoted to his family and a great cook. In fact, when I was working for Andy’s family back in 2001 as their au-pair, I was learning English and told him he was a great cooker and he laughed very hard. I still remember him teaching me how to make bolognese and whenever I’m cooking it, I remember my time in St. Albans. Sending my love to Freya and Hester.

Very sad to hear the news about Andy, although we didn't manage to keep in touch over the years. Andy & I were both PhD students at the Edward Davies Chemical Laboratories, Univ college of Wales, Aberystwyth in the early 80s. We were also flatmates at Eastgate Street, above the 'carpet shop', opposite the Light of Asia Indian restaurant (regular customers), near the Pier. He used to keep 'guppy fish' in tanks in the corridor of the Eastgate flat. They used to arrive by post in plastic bags and were alive, I was always amazed. We used to go and pay the rent together to 'Mrs Watkins', the landlady, with a bottle of Sherry. Officially there were no women allowed at the flat, only boys (men..) but one of the rooms was rented to a girl....! (Kathy ---> aka Kevin). They were happy days, can't believe it was almost 40yrs ago.... Andy's glass was half-full, always a laugh, joke & smile...... a real character & never forgotten, hwyl Andy Ger Williams

I remember running an exhibition game during Freshers' Week in Manchester, and a cheerful chubby chappy's affable, bemused disdain for some of the antics of other players. I remember a dear friend who spent the rest of his life sharing his affable bemusement at my own foibles, hangups, and driven nature. I remember an amusing raconteur sharing oh so much beer and curry, and non-PC jokes. i remember the pal from Uni who stayed with my family one Christmas, cheering up a sister going through a bad divorce; and still remembered by my siblings as Ken's jolly friend with the twinkle in his eye. I remember the mate from Manchester who loyally came to all of my many 39th birthday parties, even though he barely knew my London friends and work colleagues. I remember he was late to one - so I told everyone "the party isn't over till the fat man arrives" and then introducing him as such when he arrived; and subsequently finding out that in revenge he told any who asked how he knew me, that he had been my lover in my gay period. I remember a real foodie with an affable disdain for vegetarianism; a brilliant cook - my absolute fave being chilli crab claws. I remember a big personality who, through good-humoured insistence, had all his hall-mates at Aberystwyth refer to him as "King"; To which I added Andy Pandy; To which Jules added Gabba the Hutt. I remember one self-obsessed gamer boasting about his new girlfriend, and how she loved his body, and Andy's put-down that she of course must want him for his body as it couldn't be for his mind - said so affably that the self-obsessed one completely agreed. I remember long and rambling theorising over beer as we wondered off on wild tangents trying to solve the latest Jules puzzle. I remember a gaming weekend at someone's house where Andy lost the dice-roll for beds, and therefore got a spot on the floor, whereas Jules won, and chose the double-bed; Andy then stripped to his underwear and lay on the middle of the double-bed. Despite 20 minutes of effort, accompanied by drunken hilarity from the rest of us, Jules could not lever him an inch, and was left with the choice of sharing the bed with Andy or sleeping on the floor himself. I remember Andy turning up for a party at my house with an unannounced extra (Hester); I remember the affable avuncular friend tickling my children with his beard; And fishing one of them out of Jules' pool after she had fallen in and been so shocked by the cold that she was unable to swim. I remember the easy-going pal who, even if I hadn't seen him for many months, was oh so easy to pick up with where we'd left off. I remember the dispassionate, uncomplaining explanation of the brain-damage caused by his strokes. I remember the frail chap of later years struggling in to London to join the (old) lads for beer and curry. I remember his disappointment at not feeling up to joining the 40th anniversary party that my employer threw for me a couple years ago aboard the Golden Hinde And I remember being so touched that he and Hester made the trip to Horsham last November to support my charity history evening. It is really hard to take that this list is now at an end.