It was so sad to hear about the passing of Julian. He was a great friend for over 30 years right from the time we first worked as colleagues in the manic Housing Department of Hammersmith and Fulham council. After we both escaped that job we would regularly meet for a drink and chat usually involving long strolls into unknown parts of London and beyond. I will particularly remember Julian as a great writer and writing was what he loved to do. The arrival of a letter or email was always a treat as he had such an engaging style and a way of capturing details and bringing his subject to life. We had regular and lengthy correspondence over the years on everything from his love of soul and motown, memories of punk gigs in West London from his youth and the progress (or lack of progress) of Luton FC, to international politics and the latest authentic Asian cafe he had discovered in the back streets, all vividly observed. And he was funny. At one point we had sustained amusement exchanging ideas for a musical based on the characters we had worked with at the council! So I will miss him and his words very much. He was always to me a kind, thoughtful and generous gentleman. Nick