When I stop and truly think about the people and experiences that have
shaped me as a person, Simon's influence can't be overstated.

As a child, any visit to uncle Simon would be a guarantee of endless laughter and fun.

My
wit and sense of humour would never be the same, which could be honed following his usually peerless examples at any family gathering. The room was always warmer with his presence. I would never have appreciated the most dry, nor the most absurd of comedies without him.

I'll
never forget the sound of his hearty laughs, as he took joy in sharing classic films with my sister and I, enjoying them as if the first time watching.

As many of us know, being in his presence was often an
education, be it in film, music, literature, you name it. More valuable than many of my school lessons.

I would have never listened to,
or understood music in the same way without the valuable wisdom he provided to me, at an age where I couldn't really comprehend the extent of what he was teaching me.
As the years went by I have understood
more and more just how right he was, and it has enhanced my own relationship and openness to music immeasurably.

I of course have
Simon and my Mum to thank for passing their fanaticism for Star Wars on to me. Something of an indocrination, but one I accepted gladly.

This
all culminated when I first started learning to play the clarinet. One of the first tunes I ever wanted to learn was the cantina band theme from "A New Hope", just so I could play it down the phone to my proud uncle.

Thank you, Simon, for everything.