I first was introduced by Camilla to Paul and Anne-Christine in January 2011, when Camilla took me to visit them in Bournemouth. 'Meeting the parents' can be an awkward occasion, but they both made me feel very welcome that cold Winter afternoon as we chatted over the meal that they had kindly prepared. I got on very well with both of them- they were warm hearted and always did their very best to make me feel at home. We had lots to talk about- they had a wide range of interests and were both very intelligent with probing minds.Travel and the news were frequent topics, and Paul loved his gardening. I'm not a gardener, but liked chatting to him about half remembered flowers that my own father enjoying growing. Suddenly the names would come flowing back to me like lines in an old poem, as he described his garden in Oakham or plans for the one at Tattersalls. Often, while I drank my tea I would admire his collection of books- lots on politics, he was very well read as you would expect. In the Autumn of their years, and with mounting difficulties, they both still had very sharp minds, Lord knows what they were like when they were younger. We had fun, often entertained by the antics of Mina, Camilla's black Labrador, who was quite young then. Paul liked to feed her some tit bits, even slices of reindeer that Camilla served at smorgasbords for us.

Paul bore the cross that he had to bear in his later years with incredible dignity. Dignity was one of his own and of Anne-Christine's outstanding characteristics. There was, in rapid succession, the loss of Anne- Christine, the developing Parkinson's disease, the loss of mobility, the drawing in and shrinking of his life and horizon. So quick, and so many losses. He was not ever one for self pity, though, and could always raise a smile even when things weren't going well, and talked of other people, not himself.

I am extremely glad that he was able to see the marriage of Camilla and I, and the birth of Christopher. I know that he was over the moon to have a grandson, even if Paul did sometimes find him a bit exhausting. Paul was also cheered by the carers at Hollybank who did so much for him. He developed strong relationships with them, and despite everything, our visits there were overwhelmingly happy affairs, both through Paul's character and the carers's desire to have a laugh with the clients.

So many happy memories. The August bank holiday in 2012 stands out, when Camilla and I had a lovely few days with Paul when we visited Exbury Gardens, Studland and Canford Cliff. The weather was gorgeous and Paul was on top form admiring the plants. Good food as well, particularly one balmy Summer night at the Miramar in Bournemouth. Afterwards, Mina kept Camilla and I awake all night barking in our hotel room, but she has been forgiven. I managed to catch a carp in my hands from one garden pond- Paul didn't exactly share my delight, but indulged me and raised a weak smile at my slimy prize before it was returned.

We had fun on trips into Botley, Paul in a wheelchair, Camilla and I pushing. He loved getting out into the garden at the care home also, and perhaps those afternoon teas in the garden will be my strongest memories of him, particularly when Christopher was playing around his feet, to Paul's amusement.

Good bye, Paul. We will of course keep your memory alive with Christopher. You are a great example of how to lead a life- so full, so caring, so much given for others.

As someone has already said, you are a true gent,

Your son in law, Malcolm.