Dear Paul,
If I only had time to say one word to you, it would simply be, thanks. Thanks for the opportunity you gave me, thanks for the support and the space you gave me to do the job you employed me to do, and thanks for so many special memories we shared. When we were working together it never seemed like work most of the time, and yet there was plenty of hard graft along the way. But the one thing I knew I was always going to do when we were together, was laugh. And sometimes we laughed until we cried.
Remember that dinner, the night that seemed to last an eternity? We finally managed to get back to our hotel, walked out to the nearest bar (which was empty), and we laughed until we cried, our sides aching. The barman thought we were a couple of crazy guys, no idea of course what we were laughing at.
The night out in Glasgow when we went up to see Robbie Williams play at Hampden Park, and the hilarious conversation we ended up having with some locals at the taxi rank. They didn't believe I was from Glasgow, and one of them thought you were Robbie's dad!
The many times we persuaded hotel staff to deliver food to us in the bar, that was only supposed to be served in rooms, or thinking up ways to piss off the chef at top hotels when we were having meetings there, by ordering the most basic foods, cheese on toast was always a favourite, anything for a wind up but always done with respect and good humour.
I have so many stories, way too many to recount, over many years, the cornerstone of every single one was laughter, we used to laugh a lot when we were together, and I missed that when you left to go to Germany. Their gain was certainly our loss, and especially my loss.
And then more recently it was great to reconnect, planning dinner in London with Duncan, and of course the 25th Anniversary of the Sennheiser Scholarship programme, something that was very special to both of us, and something that would never have happened without your support, so once again, thanks. Thanks, because the scholarship and my involvement in it, brought some very special people into my life, people that I love, who also loved you, and were so stoked at being able to see you again. I just want you to know how much you mean to them.
My work with Sennheiser, and your support in the artist relations project was also very special, it brought John Jorgenson into our lives, we shared some special moments together, not least of all your 50th birthday, John was so sad to hear that you have left us and whenever we get together we will always raise a glass to you to remember.
I always knew when you were going to get me involved in something that was probably going to take a while, because you always used to approach me the same way, "I've got this little project I want you to get involved with Johnny Boy", like the BEIRG project that ended up taking up 10 years of my life. Johnny Boy was your way of addressing me when you thought I might need a bit of convincing about something. LOL.
I literally could write for hours saying all of the things that I would have said to you when we got to Liverpool, but I realise most of it I don't need to say, you know already. You were like a father to me at times, you always supported me, and for that I will be forever grateful.
Rest easy Paul, keep a seat warm, and know that someday we will get to sing "Angels" one last time.
Thanks
Johnny Boy xx
Lovely memories John, so sad.