Here are the words I wrote for our beautiful Dan. Daniel....... Dan Man........DAN! My amazing & beautiful cousin ...... Nah .... More like my big brother. Some of my fondest memories are spending the best part of a decade each and every Friday night with you, Nan & Grandad. We would play lots of games like mini golf, football, cards, wrestling and of course MONOPOLY, the game that defined our competitive natures for over 30 years. You of course had a 100% winning streak, which pains me greatly. We even had a rematch in the early 2000’s but you still thrashed my pants. When we weren’t playing we would watch shows like the Fall Guy and Dempsey & Makepeace and then roll around, acting out what we had just watched. You would be Colt Seavers & I would be Howie. We received a fantastic education at Nan’s too, particularly in our knowledge of booze! We used to eagerly await Nan coming back from bingo as we knew that’s when we would have our weekly glass of Advacat! You would have the little Sherry glasses ready and waiting for when Nan walked thru the door. Not content with drinking the glass of Advacat you would always get your finger and swirl it around the glass ensuring you got every last drop out. Saturday mornings were fun too! We used to get up early and watch Muppet Babies! Nan would then take us to the shop across the road for our comics, you were Beano & I were Beezer. Nan would then treat us to sweets! You would always have a quarter of rainbow crystals which was pretty much a bag of coloured sugar! Needless to say you always had a massive hyper energy boost after that bag! As the years rolled on we didn’t see as much of each other, but our bond was still very strong. I remember you coming along to Festival FM, a voluntary radio station where I was presenting an afternoon show. I even got you to talk on air, something you felt incredibly uncomfortable about, but you did it anyway for me. In fact, you were there for so many of my important events, my 21st where we danced to the Beatles medley (yep....I have to apologise to you for that one as you felt right embarrassed), my wedding to Karen ....when walking out after our vows we looked at each other and you had the biggest brightest smile and a sense of beaming pride. You were also there for our first gig when I briefly ventured in life as a guitarist/ singer in a band. This was the night I also met Ayesha for the first time where we ended up in a gay night at the students union and Sonia .....yep the 80s red headed teeny bopper singer was playing live....and playing live badly...still you made the most of it like you did with everything and we had a good giggle. In the mid to late noughties, Wednesday nights with you, Ayesha and Auntie Marie became games night. Something I looked forward to each week. Marie would cook for us and then we would get slightly merry over cards, dominos and sequence. Each week I would have to be reminded how to play a particular card game, and you would always describe the rules perfectly and with such patience. It was around this time that I received a call from you, I was driving on the motorway. I thought you were calling to give me some bad news as Nan was poorly at the time. It wasn’t bad news, it was the best news ever .....you were going to be a Dad! The first time I saw you and Ayesha with Joy.....everything just clicked! You were both knackered and quite frankly had looked better....BUT.....watching you both looking and cuddling Joy was one of the most beautiful moments I’ll treasure forever. And it’s very evident to see the overwhelming love in Joy, a very beautiful, super talented girl....and might I add... incredibly patient....especially when playing with her younger cousin Henry who likes to pull her hair and has a meltdown whenever she has to go home! When I think of you Dan....I think fun.... lots of fun! But there was also the most beautiful, caring and loving side that you extended to everyone you met. A good example of this is when we were shopping in Morrisons, you were supporting and comforting me after the loss of a close friend. We were at the checkout and the lady in front was struggling to pay for her shopping. You quickly got money out of your pocket and gave her the remainder of what she needed and gently stroked her arm, indicating to her as not to worry. I can’t talk of you Dan without mentioning your amazing hugs and cuddles, and the abundance of overwhelming love you had for everyone you met. .....genuine love for everyone. In fact not once in my 40 years have I heard you say a bad word about anyone....now that is something for us all to aspire to. To quote the closing song of Bugsy Malone, one of your favourite films... You give a little love and it all comes back to you..... You know you’re gonna be remembered for the things that you say and do... Well Dan, you gave a lot of love and the people in this room are a testament to that. As for how you will be remembered......I made a promise to you when you were poorly that I would not let this brutal infection that stole you from us happen to anyone else, and I will make it my life’s work to raise awareness and campaign in your name...... #HugforDan.... .....you’re never ever going to be forgotten Dan, because you are so very much alive in all of hearts and our treasured memories. I will love you forever and thank you for being the best big brother anyone could ask for. All my love, Charissa x x x