22 years (give or take) I have known this lovely family. 

Don was the dad I adopted or did he adopt me as his daughter? I used to just walk into their house in Bishopsmead (along with a lot of Tavistock!) and I would always be greeted with a “hello my mate”. 
I practically lived with them at times, I think I even had a spare key. I remember offering Don money, for bills, because I was there all the time! He said I was always welcome and he didn’t want my money. 

We used to chat a lot; I would ask his advice about jobs, money and family issues, he would chat to me about good times, bad times and very often trains! In fact, I was amazed that I’d known the family for so long before I was introduced to the amazing model railway in the loft! 

He listened to and helped me as much as I listened to and (hopefully) helped him and I will forever be grateful for those times. Even when I was working in Okehampton, Don was always in full support of the work that I was doing there, and he really helped to improve things. 
I bumped into him once, whilst he was walking around the streets in a meeting with some ‘important’ looking people, and he stopped the conversation mid-flow to announce who I was, how he knew me and how wonderful I was. He always had time for people and there was nothing other than genuine kindness in him.

He will be missed, but remembered with such fondness.