This was in summer 1961 (added by Thomas Bearth, 18 March 2021

caI came to do the SIL summer course in linguistics held at that time at Chigwell in that very hot summer of 1961. Together with 50 men we slept under a huge tent. Colin and I had our plank beds and wooden orange boxes next to each other. The course was demanding, my English minimal, but thanks to the love and friendship of my tent mate Colin I managed and became myself a linguist as he did, though he went to Australia, and I went to Africa. During that summer, we often had duties together, that's when once I came up with the neo-compound "washer up of pans", much to Colin's gentle amusement. He also invited me to his home and I got to know his parents. - I just heard on Swiss radio about an aborigin language being revived so I tried to learn the latest about Colin. Sorry to hear he's passed away. May this reminiscence be a memorial to one whose gentleness and friendship towards the stranger and newcomer I was then has helped me find my way and has marked my life.

I was a postgraduate student of Colin's at Macquarie University. I found him a gentle and well read tutor, who encouraged me enormously when I needed to complete my thesis. He made sure I knew about and was included in many University activities, and we became friends. I lost touch with Colin when he and Maureen moved away from Sydney, and it has been a sad to stymlbe across this web-page. Vale, Colin. You've been a light and a gracious guide me and to many others. Thank you.