When I first joined the Sunday People Graham Ball was a star.  Tall, dark, handsome, charismatic and destined, many felt, to become the next editor.  The most popular man I have ever known I think.
 
His love of cricket is well known.  His curiosity and thirst for knowledge was unquenchable.  We did many assignments together and became firm friends.  In the days of the Pager we were sometimes able to escape the 'The Stab in the Back' and walk to St. Pauls for the Lunchtime Concert – great acoustics.  We also attended symphony concerts together at the Festival Hall.  He once snoozed peacefully all the way through Brookner’s 8th Symphony and when challenged swore that he had not missed a note.
 
After Graham left the People we remained friends and holidayed together in France.  Anne and Tessa became great friends and he and Tessa stayed with us on the Isle of Wight until they bought a house close to ours in Yarmouth. Graham, his two sons and I sailed together out of Yarmouth. Those were wondrous days.  Later Anne and I moved to Totland Bay and and many happy times were had – including skinny dipping at Freshwater Bay at Midnight in April under a full moon. When Anne and I finally married, Graham was my highly successful best man, keeping guests in fits of laughter with his sharp wit.
 
Graham was thrilled when his daughter, Rebecca was born and loved his three children and Tessa immensely.  We all lost him gradually to the horrible illness that gripped him. I will always remember him as he was. Magnificent!