'Grumpy Old Men' meetings

I first met Andy in March 1985 when we were both recruits starting our fire fighting careers, spending 14 weeks with someone like Andy meant you became close friends, he was just that sort of bloke. After we graduated we went to different shifts and different stations and as I was a few years older than Andy and had a young and growing family we didn't get to catch up that often. We had one of those effortless friendships, and whenever our paths did cross it always felt as if we had seen each other just a couple of days ago. When Andy was promoted to Station Officer and transferred to C shift (my shift) we were able to talk more often, this led to a few of us getting together for a breakfast catch up down at Brighton. These semi-regular catch ups were christened 'Grumpy Old Men' meetings and Andy became the self-proclaimed secretary, setting the agenda of discussion topics. These breakfast get togethers became a safe place where anything and everything was discussed, no topic was taboo and it was OK to vent frustrations and angst. They were something that I looked forward to, as they were not only enjoyable but also very cathartic and this was largely due to Andy's innate ability to steer the conversation with his enormous capacity for empathy, compassion and humour. It's because of these breakfasts that I know that Andy loved the life you had all built together and was so proud of the people his kids had become.
Andy was a big man with an even bigger heart, he was a wonderful person who genuinely cared for others, he didn't take himself to seriously and could laugh at the absurdities of the world. He was a friend and I will miss him terribly.
Again I am sorry for your loss.
If there is anything I can do for you now or in the future don't hesitate to ask.
Peter Fitton