MyMax

Max and I knew each other for many years, for all of our lives. We went through many different degrees of friendship, sometimes we were best friends, racing each other in the playground (I would always win!) or playing with wooden guns that his dad had made for him in his big garden . We fell out of touch for a small period of time, between the ages of 7 till 12. I had gone to a different school which took me into different spheres. However it was Max that brought me back into the Queen's Park crew all those years later. I can't remember exactly how it happened or exactly when but I can't imagine what life would have been like if he hadn't taken that interest in me. Through Max I was re-aquainted with the famous Louis, Owen and Ize among others, and somehow we all stumbled into becoming inseperable once again. The thing about Max is he was almost responsible for all of my social life, I mean we helped one and other, but he really was the man who knew everyone and could sort out anything and bring people together whether it be a huge night out with half of Hampstead school or a heated football match in the park, he was your man for getting people off their arses. It was not all smooth sailing between Max and I though, we could really get to each other, and there were periods when we seemed like a married couple on the rocks rather than friends. Looking back now I believe that this was because I respected him so much and looked up to him more than anyone, it also meant I expected a lot from the boy and maybe I was too quick to snap at him when he didn't live up to my high expectations. In recent years things changed between us, we really did get along with one and other. He, in my opinion, came of age whilst at university in Newcastle, becoming more sensitive, gentle and understanding of others. Since this tragedy has happened to all of us, i have realized other things that i perhaps took for granted. I relied on Max more than i ever knew, he was a wise, positive and caring friend who would go out of his way to try and talk to me about my problems, often having to force it out cos i am too closed up. I am scared now that he is gone, because he was my voice of reason, putting me back on track when i was confused or upset. It is hard to imagine how I will fill the void now, because it is a lifetime that I expected to share with him, but somehow we have to. I take relief in knowing how much max had lived in his 23 years, he must have met and enlightened many hundreds of random people aswell as all of us.

The picture at the top is of us in the North West of Spain one summer (Outes?), we were 15 years old and had a great time getting up to no good with the locals as well as perfecting our football skills (Max's really). The other picture above was taken by Rosy in Australia in 2001 during our epic travels that had such an impact on our friendship and truely made us all. I will remember both instances forever with fond memories.