Mark Minshull McMemories

Mark It is difficult to know what to write in times like this. We have worked together for so long that it feels like not only have we all lost our boss, but I have lost a colleague, mentor and friend of many years. I have vivid recollections of you taking me into the Marketing Room and asking if I would like to cover Amanda’s maternity and spend 6 months in London. At the time I had no real desire to move out of Nottingham but off I trotted and little did I know how this would change my life forever. In the years that followed we had so many great times. Of course the work was always rewarding and we enjoyed lots of successes together, but my main memories will be outside the Linney circles and the McDonald’s Golden Arches. Some of those highlights include rugby trips at Twickenham, numerous visits to McD AGM and RMHC events in Spain, Portugal and other parts of Europe, the (now infamous) Samworth Challenge, and I’ll never forget the first time I met Tom and Jake and let them run riot in McDonald’s after their visit to the zoo with Amanda, when I let them throw the fries and (mostly) catch them in their mouths! Couple all of this with the odd visit to your home to see you and receive the warmth and kindness of Helen and there are memories here I will never forget. Ever the optimist though and I look forward to creating more memories as you settle into your new home, and vice versa as Lucy and I settle into ours and Jessica continues to grow and we can compare stories. When we meet in future it will be with wine in hand and a pool to dip into, so there can’t be any looking back. Thank you personally for all the support and friendship you have given me in the last 18 years. Here’s to more happy times ahead for you and Helen. À votre santé Dan DAN OUTRAM