4. Fuzzytop by Sandy Lang

My family knew the Manchester/Curtis family through church, home group and camping trips. I don’t think that I ever visited the Manchester/Curtis home at 402 Muritai Road or that you ever visited mine at 53 Rona Street. Our kids were too different in ages to play comfortably together, roughly 10 (Hester), 8 (Ewen), 6 (James) and 4 (David). Two years is a big difference when you’re little.

Except as the leader of a small gang of two, my memories of James are scant - just a name really. I remember David as the younger and I remember him more visually. He is about five years old and has a rather round little head, topped with two centimetres of very fair, stand-up, hair. I reach out to touch his head to feel if it is as prickly as it looks - it is downy. My kids and I call him ‘Fuzzytop’...

2. A rebel with guts by Richard Curtis

It is David’s spirit rather than a single memory or recollection that comes most readily to my mind.

David was like a breath of fresh air in this world of political correctness and hypersensitivity.

David was always ready to tell it like it was and act according to his instincts not according to society’s opinions.

I will always love David’s direct approach to life.

He was a rebel with guts and attitude and he had the sort of personality that could break the mould of the status quo and produce something inspiring.

He was taken from us early but I like to think that he left us all with a priceless message: Follow your heart and do what you think is right and fuck anyone or anything that tries to hold you back from you dreams.

Shine on you crazy diamond...!