I started to build my Tribute to Clive today. With the anniversary soon upon us I wanted to put out a tribute to him to all those who knew and loved him. There are so many things to say about him - he was such a brave man and he never ever gave up - even at the end -he fought so much to stay with us all. Our life will never be the same again but I have to be positive and think of all the wonderful memories we have and the wonderful legacy he has left in our four children. Clive was very determined to lead a full life even when he was crippled with pain - he had a great sense of humour and he was very caring and loving. Clive was such a demonstrative man and he loved me and the children with a passion - he was my soulmate, our daughters hero and our boys best mate. He loved his mum and brothers and met up with them weekly. He was the son and brother my mum and dad and sisters never had. He was everyones friend - you never heard him complain about his suffering and he would do anything for anyone. He was generous and thoughtful - he was a honest, hardworking Englshman and proud to be English. Clives funeral spoke volumes with the amount of people who attended. He was so well thought of in all walks of life and it didnt matter where you came from - Clive had this ability to mix with everyone. How proud would he have been to have heard his friends Paul and Roger read at his funeral, and to hear his pal Doddy and Greg talk about him and all the funny stories. How proud would he have been to have heard my dad talk about him with such pride and love having him a the son he never had. How proud to hear his brother Steve talk about him. And how especially proud he would have been to have heard his children talk about him with such strength and love. The poem I read out to Clive on that day said so much but not enough about the man I loved. MY DARLING CLIVE, SO STRONG AND BRAVE I WILL NEVER FORGET THE LOVE YOU GAVE THROUGH ALL YOUR PAIN, THROUGH ALL OUR TEARS, YOU GAVE US ALL SUCH JOYOUS YEARS OUR SILVER ANNIVERSARY OUR MAGICAL CRUISE THE MEMORIES OF THAT I WILL NEVER LOSE OUR PRECIOUS CHILDREN WILL TAKE FROM YOU YOUR STRENGTH, PASSION AND HUMOUR IN ALL THEY DO FAMILY HOLIDAYS, WE'VE HAD SUCH FUN CHAOTIC, YES THE SIX OF US IN THE SUN. THOSE PARTIES AND GATHERING CHRISTMASES TOO WE'LL CELEBRATE AGAIN, AND WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE YOU YOU WILL BE WITH US AT THE BREAK OF THE DAY YOU WILL GUIDE US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY YOU WILL BE WITH US WHEN WE WORK AND,OF COURSE YOU WILL BE WITH US AT THE BULL AND WHITE HORSE AN ENGLISH GENTLEMAN SO HONEST AND PROUD OH HOW WE WILL MISS NOT HAVING YOU AROUND ESPECIALLY MYSELF, JAMES, JAKE GABY AND HAT WE WERE YOUR WORLD, THERE WAS NO DOUBTING THAT I KNOW YOU WILL LEAN ON THAT PEARLY LAMPOST OUR OWN DICK VAN DYKE OF THAT WE CAN BOAST UP WHERE THE SMOKE IS ALL BILLERED AND CURLED BETWEEN PAVEMENT AND STARS IS THE CHIMNEY SWEEPS WORLD A FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN I PROMISE TO BUILD DESPITE THE VOID THAT CAN NEVER BE FILLED I KNOW ONE DAY TOGETHER WE'LL BE UNTIL THEN MY LOVE,PLEASE WAIT FOR ME MY LOVE FOR YOU WILL NEVER DIE I WILL FEEL YOUR WARMTH IN EVERY TEAR I CRY I WILL SEE YOUR FACE IN EVERY CROWD I WILL HEAR YOU SINGING RIGHT OUT LOUD NO PAIN NO MORE NOW SLEEP MY LOVE JUST PEACE SWEETHEART FROM UP ABOVE THANK YOU DEAR LORD FOR LENDING HIM TO ME NOW KEEP HIM SAFE FOR ETERNITY In June 2008 the children and I organised a "Celebration of Clive's Life" and the amazing amount of £5,000 was raised in his memory for Arthritis Research and Arthritis Care and MacMillan Nurses. Another ball is planned for June 2009 Julie Pearce, one of our dear friends, has ran in memory of Clive for Cancer Research.Thanks Jul!) Next June 2009 a group of us will be cycling from London to Paris to raise money for Arthritis. I feel very humble to have shared my life with him and I will always love him for ever and a day.