Vicki and I grew up together.  We learned about boys, pop music, fashion and hair through hours of chatting and walking around.  We made huge mistakes!  We laughed a lot.  I have never been bored in Vicki's company even though to the outside world it looked like we were doing nothing.  Just mooching about with someone grows a friendship.  We grew up, got married (she put me in a memorable bridesmaid dress, whilst looking stunning as a bride; she made my wonderful wedding cake), we moved away, we became mums, we drifted.  Then Vicki made some life changes and suddenly we were hanging out as friends again.  We continued to love the Pet Shop Boys and at 50 years old became giggling teenagers again as we went to watch them in concert - an amazing and unforgettable experience made both surreal and magical by sharing it together.  When I was with Vicki, even as a grown up, I never felt like a grown up. Ours was a friendship based on fun and silliness and even the most serious things of life didn't seem to intrude on that.  I will miss that there is a person that I can be a teenager with.

Vicki was a straight talking, kind and honest person with a wonderful sense of humour - a product of a kind and firm upbringing by Kath and Jeff.  I know she was an amazing mum to Joe and Tom because of how proud she was of them.  I am sorry that her lovely, fun and adventurous relationship with Paul was so short - but it was wonderful.