A letter from Australia

I received this email from Jo in Australia, with the attached photos. Max's eyes are half closed in one, and mine are half closed in the other, but nevermind!

(Jo is Antonia's mother. Antonia and I grew up together on Harvist Road until her family moved to Australia when we were 9 or 10 years old. Antonia has come back to visit a few times, and got to know Max and the boys. Once I really upset her and Max became her confidante. It was only after she'd left that he told me she'd been upset. I felt ashamed by my behaviour, but i'm glad that she could talk to Max.)


Dear Rosie

We were saddened to hear of the Max's death. By now you may be starting to pick your self up again and face the world without being so close to tears. You have lost a good friend and former lover. It is so unfair when young people die and such a shock when it's so sudden. Children should never die before their parents!!

A lot will have been said and even more felt. For you and his close friends, the world has tilted and everything in it has shifted a little. The future will never be quite the same as it would have been if Max were still a part of it. You will each cope in different ways.

No one ever dies completely while there is someone left to remember them; they don't grow old either.

My brief impression of Max was that he was a 'golden boy' in every sense and that is how you may all remember him, always the 'golden boy'.

Our thoughts and love are with you.

I am attaching two photographs I took in August 2001 to take back to Anty. Hope you can add them to your Max collection.

Lots of love

Jo