Max

From Celia:

The first time I met Max was some time near the end of first year at Newcastle on the 8th floor of Castle Leazes. It was a fleeting encounter but I remember thinking immediately that he was a legend with an amazing infectious smile. I was pretty pleased to find that we’d be living on the same street when we moved out of halls. The next time we saw each other was after some drunken night in the first week of Second year when I suddenly recalled that 'some cool guy called Max' lived next door but one – What a great time to go and re-introduce myself I thought! It seems strange now that I should have remembered him so vividly, it had been at least four months since we had met and even then we had barely spoken. But that’s the kind of person Max is, instantly unforgettable and someone you just know you want to become friends with, who can only add to your life.

It was quite anti-socially late and I was slightly the worse for wear but he was really friendly and charming and didn't take the piss (too much!), invited me and my housemate in to his kitchen where we continued to drink and chat.

Given this ominous introduction, our friendship was not a total non-starter – something which I consider to be testimony to his amazingly welcoming personality. I was lucky enough to see lots of Max for the rest of uni - whether it was on nights out, playing football down our road, chilling out in our house or seeing him just goofing about with the boys. He was a constant presence for those two years and it is therefore so hard to come to terms with, and reconcile, the fact that he is gone.

The times we all spent together on Devonshire Place were pretty idyllic, making Max’s death all the more shocking and unbelievable. It makes those amazing years feel even more like a dream, particularly when you discover that real life can bring changes more shattering and damaging than you could ever imagine. It’s hard to comprehend just how much has been altered within the space of a year and even more impossible to convey this in writing. Nothing I could write will ever do Max justice and I sometimes feel like I almost don’t want to put the memories into words because I know I’ll never find the right ones.

All I can really say is that Max was an incredible guy who I will never forget and I feel privileged to have so many happy memories of him. You are so missed Maximus.

The photos are of Max and Russ at our Cowboys and Indians House party in January 2005 and Benji, Toller and Max some other time, I'm not too sure when.