Danny shared laughter as a young boy with me, my brother and other friends in the area. He enjoyed Shipman Youth Club Tuesday night disco with us all alongside his twin brother Jason. Back then, Madness was one of his favourite bands among others with artists on the Two Tone label. The two of them would go out in their navy blue crombies, Fred Perry shirts with jeans and jodhpur boots. They both took their meticulous 'put together' look very seriously. As Danny got older he became more gentle and quieter, he became the steady one among some of his wild and sometimes reckless friends but then, his unforgettable, loud laugh would jolt you back to realising that he really was a big presence.
Having seen Danny a few years ago at the funeral of one of his best friends, I ran into him and his wife Tina last year. they came into my favourite Indian restaurant (theirs too) in Essex to collect their take-away. It was not ready so they sat down at my table. It was a bit like a speed date, trying to get as much catching up done before their food was ready. It was so good to see him again as it had been a few years before that. Speaking to him that night I was pleasantly reminded of what a gentle soul he was, a real prince among men. I will miss him, like so many of his friends will. His entire family feel his loss so deeply, a loss they will have to find a way to manage. I keep hearing the song 'The Prince' by Madness, it always reminds me of him and like the song ends; Bring Back The, Who Is The, We Want The Prince.....
God bless you Dan and may the arms of your wonderful parents enfold you.
I dedicate this blog to Peter and Phoebe Heron.
