What a five years it was! I worked at the Environment Agency in the Asset Management team from 2002 to 2007. It was my second full-time job and Dickie was my "mentor". For the majority of the time we sat together on face-to-face desks in the bay window of the Colvedene Court office in Colden Common. From here my very relaxed "mentor" would, not very seriously, become a massive influence in my life. He would always deliver the work, but he did it in a way where he made work fun.
Sitting so close together we both developed a keen ear for different marques of motorcycle. This led to us competing to see who could get the marque name correct. We would both learn the softer rumble of a Honda, from a tighter revving Yamaha but neither of us could always get Kawasaki or Suzuki. However, there was always one marque we'd agree on, we'd lock eyes and give a knowing nod to the very distinctive loud roar of a Ducati! Obviously, as an owner of a bright yellow Ducati, Dickie knew the sound and I always think of him when I see (or hear) one on the road. Occasionally, we'd fall in to the trap of both agreeing "Ducati" but then shaking our heads in disappointment to see a Moto Guzzi or MV Agusta thundering around the round-a-about instead.
Dickie, Tanya (nee) Newman, Aimee (nee) Cox and James Addicott (or a combination of the group) would often go for a lunchtime bike ride passing Marwell Zoo, Owlsebury, Timsbury and Morestead. These were honestly the best lunch breaks I have ever had. A couple of years ago James and I re-rode the route, and whist it was good fun, it just was not the same without Dickie. This memory will live on though and I am determined to ride the route more now, in memory of Dickie.
Another great memories of Dickie include his little fart machine, which he had on the C:Drive of his work PC. When I was on a telephone phone call, he could never resist opening up the file and letting a flurry of different farts serenade my phone call with a wet fart, or accompanying someone when sat on their chair with a warm rasper!?!
Sometimes, when driving to/from my mums house in Romsey, I drive over the River Test on the A3057 Greatbridge Road. Just North of the bridge is the "legendary" Dickies Folly, a masterpiece in sluice gate design. Every time I go over that bridge I always remember Dickie, and will always continue to too.
Dickie was competitive and during a 3-Day Health and Safety training course in Ashford, the hotel had a pool and a gym, so Mike, Dickie and I would go to the gym after the course. Here, Dickie and I would compete on the rowing machine to see who could go further. I think I won, I was doing an Olympic rowing regime at the time, but it was close. Dickie was a fit man.
Dickie loved fishing and I went along a couple of times with Dickie and Mike Newman, we did some night fishing at Taddiford Gap, where I caught my first proper fish (a seabass). It was big enough to take home to eat, so I cooked it but didn't descale it. But I ate it anyway and told Dickie and Mike the following Monday that it was "lovely". I left out the part where I was chewing and picking out the all the scales from my teeth. More recently (a few years ago) I re-joined Dickie, Mike and James Addicott on a fishing boat trip from Chichester Harbour. Again, I managed to catch some fish (Mackerel, Crab and a Plaice) and Dickie was on hand to help. It was great to see him out at sea fish, and have that opportunity to be with him (our last time) to reminisce about working together.
I will fish and ride-on in your memory Dickie. Missing you already!
