Gutted to read this.

Known Dave since the early 70s, when he had long hair and his own sartorial mix of an Afghan coat and bovver boots, and enjoyed years of away trips with him and the chaps, by bus or train or car as the song goes.

A regular in quite a number of "lost" pubs over the years, the Windsor, the MA, the Greyhound, the Grapes and the Florist among others.

My S/T seat is next to his and i''ll miss clambering over him to get in place, and the whiff of his surreptitious gaspers on a frosty afternoon.

And, of course, he added to the English language with the phrase "to Wilkes it" becoming commonplace for those travelling to an away match then deciding to stop in the pub.

RIP old timer, a sad loss.