One of my proudest achievements was making the combined schools choir. We were to sing at the Willoughby Civic Centre to a selection of songs including Motzarts interpretation of the Latin Mass and several others. There was a full orchestra and around 80 in the choir. Pretty noisy.....or at least I thought until my Daddy took a seat front and centre, fell asleep and snored so loudly that even the kettle drums were almost drowned out. Neverthless, he said it was one of the best concerts he had heard......quite obviously chanelling Fleetwood Mac live in that dream. Just wish he was here to snore through anything.

Imagine this - a group of 17-18 year olds out for a beer and a jazz night on Deansgate, Manchester when Don's radar picks up a fellow motor-cyclist in distress. We cross the busy road and Don enquires what the problem is. The motor-cyclist informs us his carburettor has come loose and he cannot start his bike because air is by-passing the carburettor. Don: "What you need, mate, is a three-eighths open-ended spanner", which Don then produced from one of his suit pockets, bringing smiles to the faces of the rest of us. Within 5 minutes the bike was running and on its way. Be prepared carried to the enth degree. Don gave us a lot of good memories to look back upon. I will miss him.

From the age of 14 Don was like an extra big brother to me. I remember one night when the famous five had a party at our house. Mother put her best glasses in a high cupboard so they would not get broken when the lads had had a few. Later in the evening Don was sitting near the cupboard with a silly grin on his face and a far away look in his beery eyes. Mother opened the cupboard and sure enough the box of prized glasses fell out. Don stretched out his arm and caught one - the other five smashed in tiny pieces. I think it was when he carfully put it back that the steam came out of her ears.

From the age of 13 or 14 Dox was like an extra big brother. I remember one night when the famous five had a party at our house. Mother put her best glasses in a high cupboard because she didn't want them to get broken when the guys had had a few. Late in the evening Don was sitting near the cupboard with a silly grin on his face and a far away look in his beery eyes. Mother opened the cupboard and the box of prized glasses fell out. Don stretched out his arm and caught one. The other five lay in tiny pieces on the floor.

Don and I were close mates for years, he was a very special person, mad as a hatter when astride a motor bike, but a true friend, I am glad that I was able to come over to OZ to see him whilst he was still fit enough to enjoy my visit, we had a few drinks, we had a few laughs, we said our goodbyes without a word being spoken. I'll miss you, you daft old sod.

I have fond memories from the 1950's when, as the girlfriend of one of a motor-cycle group, I rode pillion passenger on Don's Ariel 500 twin motor-cycle, my boyfriend Arthur being on 'L' plates at the time. I have memories of sitting on a stone wall in Derbyshire watching Don dismantle his bike because there was a 'knock'. I think he was a perfectionist in many ways. I also remember losing the toe off my new shoe when we went round a very sharp bend once and I had to lean over dramatically. Having said that, I never felt fear with Don because he was one of those people you felt you could rely upon. It was only in the past few years that the members of the motor-cycle group have been reunited by emails, and the Famous Five, as they call themselves, has been saddened by the loss of Don. His quotes are not forgotten, however, and still bring a smile. Don's family is devastated by losing him, and his caring and supportive attitude towards them comes through when you meet them. He will be sadly missed.

49 years. I thought it would last for ever my love. chris

You always have and continue to mean so much to us. I am so sad you have gone. I love you Daddy

Words don't even come close Daddy. Safe onward journey. All my love Melanie