Si or Papa as I called him was a fantastic man. We met through work 15 years ago and became friends through Brian and our love of music. He became a very close and special friend and I would refer to him and Brian as 'my boys'. I have such special memories of the times we shared, going to gigs, festivals and nights out. When Si was diagnosed with his illness, he was devastated, as were all his friends but I told him on a regular basis that he was the bravest man that I knew and he was…. He fought his illness with dignity and bravery and I loved going to visit him we always had a laugh, at some visits we often thought what the other patients in hospital would be thinking with all the laughing and joking going on in his room. When Simon passed away it was sudden and I thought and still do that it wasn’t fair. There isnt a day that goes by that I don’t smile or cry and the times and memories that we shared. I miss him so much, like Brian I hear a song or someone mentions a band name of a film and it all comes flooding back. I also pass on my condolences to his family and wish with all my heart that he were still here.

I knew Si for about 15 years, and have great memories of going to gigs and festivals with him. We bonded over our love of strange music (I think we were both made up to meet someone else who'd heard of the bands we liked!) In 2003, Si did me the great honour of being Best Man at mine and Linda's wedding, and gave a lovely speech. I still miss him every day and can't quite believe he's gone. I'll hear a song or see a band, and the 1st thing that flashes through my mind is "Si will like that", or "I must tell Si about that". The last year was awful for Si, but he showed a bravery and dignity that I don't think I'd've been able to. It was a tribute to him the number of people that continued to visit him during his long stay in hospital. It was never a chore. I'd like to thank Helen for this marvellous webpage, and to pass on my condolences again to Si's family. Si was one of a kind, and there's not a day goes by that I don't wish he was still around.

Simon was a fantastic man with the most amazingly courageous and positive outlook on his illness. I have been truly devastated by his premature death and hope that this Tribute Fund will at least go some way to helping other people living with this disease. I want us to raise as much money as possible so that something positive can come out of this sad event. I truly believe that it is the lack of funding and research into this illness that has prevented a cure or effective treatment from being developed. Hopefully in time we will all see the benefits of raising money for this fund.