I first met Michael when we all started at Alfred Sutton Boys School in September 1969.I used to sit next to him in class. He was bubbly,lively with an elvish grin .Michael loved his football. Either playing or watching Reading FC from the Southbank at Elm Park.We all got our first part time job together working at Littlewoods Store in Reading. I worked with Michael in the stock room.As we grew up together the bond of friendship between our little group grew stronger. Fishing , camping playing by the river was wonderful in the summer .After school we used to meet up for a coffee in Reading town centre. After that ,,Michael and I would go to Hickies the music store where Mick would play their bass guitar to Deep Purple Smoke on the water.And Michael loved his music. When we all moved onto the Sixth Form where there was a record player in the common room, Mick would bring in his Status Quo,Wishbone Ashand ELO records to play.The sixth form was girls and boys and the girls would organise parties and discos for us at Top Rank and The Griffen . We all went to the Reading Festival to see the bands .Really wonder years. By this time we were frequenting the great pubs Reading had in the 1970's. I used to meet Michael in the Happy Prospect Coronation Square. His dad would sometimes be there and stand us our first drink and slip us a pound note. The Boars Head was a favourite and there would be a rush to catch the last bus home.Mick would always say catch my bus Bernie.The head of our Sixth Form Dr Watson suggested to Michael that a practical rather than academic path should be chosen, so Mick left without doing his A levels and worked with his hands with great success throughout his life.Michael battled bravely through his first illness but he always had time to call me and meet up .Our meet ups ( we called ourselves the class of 76 ) were wonderful to remember old stories and catch up on the news.We were all shocked when Michael gave us the news about his prognosis but he still wanted to see us at his home in Brimpton Road.Just before he went into the hospice I sat with him and held his hand. He looked at me ( and although talking was difficult ) and with with that impish smile said thank you to me and the class of 76 for making his life so wonderful. We were lucky to have had you Michael as such a dear friend. Me and the class of 76 are going to miss you, but you will be always with us.