PERSHORE councillor Dave Shaw was my oldest friend, since we started at Moseley Grammar School in 1960.

Through the Sixties, we came of age together, shared music, did pub crawls through Birmingham, went to football matches, hitchhiked to CND rallies and folk festivals, and when we left Brum in 1967 and lived in other cities, we visited each other and always remained in touch.

Although I moved to Australia in 1978, I travelled to Pershore every time I returned to England and caught up with him and his family.

Dave also came out to Oz. We shared a common interest in the environment, cultural heritage and wildlife and would swap news on our mutual endeavours.

The photograph of him with his binoculars and bird book outside the glorious Pershore Abbey is a beautiful way to remember him.

From across the miles, our deepest sympathies go out to Janet and the family. Goodbye, old friend.

PAUL HEMPHILL New South Wales Australia