Meeting a girlfriend’s dad is always a scary prospect, especially at the age of 19 when Charlotte and I first started going out. However, that was never the case with David. He always welcomed me into their home and part of the West family - from giving us his cool disco and funk vinyls through to wearing silly / scary masks as I spent my first Christmas away from my own family. Never was this more true than this year when - with some tears, a hug and lots of loving, kind words - he gave me his blessing to ask his daughter to marry me. It breaks my heart to know he is no longer with us and it’s in everyone’s grief and memories that what we have lost is so cruelly brought into focus. However, I know he will never truly be gone. In even these past couple of weeks I’ve seen him as we tidy his stylish house, as we listen to his jazz playlists, and in the stories people share. Most of all though I see him in Cherrill and Charlotte. And I cannot think of two better people for him to continue living on through.