Adrian had such a cheerful outgoing personality that anyone who worked with him regarded him as much more than a colleague - rather as a friend. I'm sure that we all have our own particular memories of Adrian.

Mine start when I joined Data Unit in 1989, Adrian had joined the Treasury as an Executive Officer in 1988, following 3 years in Dover Prison - where he was of course a Prison Officer. It was around the time of this move that Adrian developed the three interests that were to lead to many happy evenings - namely beer, good food, and well more beer! But more of that later.

He left Data Unit in 1991 to work in the Home & Legal Team and he then went on loan the Office of the Rail Regulator which whilst we never addressed him as the Fat Controller I think goes a long way to explaining various encounters he and others here today had with a certain clockwork Thomas the Tank Engine.

Like a lot people have felt over the years, Adrian's spiritual home was Data Unit and in 1995 he came back - this time on promotion to Higher Executive Officer. I think it would be an understatement to say that Adrian was totally dedicated to his work and his staff - the many hours we spent discussing 'complex work issues' in our other office - the Red Lion - would bear testament to that. However, it wasn't always just a trip to the pub with Adrian - he was a great lover of Karaoke and none of us who were there in Brighton could ever forget his disco dancing skills - which were all the more impressive as he appeared to be wearing his red 'coach driver' jacket.

Adrian loved to play 'a practical joke or two' as anyone lucky enough to receive a present from him would agree. However there were occasions when the tables were turned - I will never forget when in his role as a Fire Warden we managed to convince him that in the event of a fire he needed to stand in the corridor holding 'Fire Exit this way' signs that he thought had been sent to him by those responsible for health & safety. How we managed to keep a straight face during the next fire drill is beyond me. I also remember a incident where Adrian went to Victoria Station to meet a fictitious Russian Delegation due to visit the Treasury - after many frantic phone calls from the station - it was only after asking the Travel Enquiry Desk for the umpteenth time that the penny finally dropped. He'd been had!

As I mentioned before, outside of work Adrian was an active member of the Civil Service Rugby Club - I remember him once giving us a blow by blow account of the try he'd scored that weekend. However, it was only when we asked him the score he revealed that his side had lost by over fifty points and his try was the only points they registered that day. Of course, there were also the Rugby Tours - the full graphic details of which Adrian would delight in telling those of us he considered had 'the stomach for it'. After hearing about some of their 'capers' - for want of a better word - I know why.

He also was an active member of a Role Playing Group in which he spent many evenings and weekends Roleplaying, both as a player and as a Games-Master. Adrian was always inventive and creative and he always put a great deal of effort in to his character and scenarios. As a player he generated novel ideas and approaches which while they were not always successful always proved entertaining. I can well believe that.

Another great passion of his life was his computer. I know that he spent many hours at home using this - his mum told me the other day that his computer chair, to put it mildly, was falling to bits through overuse - I'm sure that the condition of his chair had nothing at all to do with Adrian's love of food that I mentioned earlier.

Seriously, though, whilst Adrian's hallmark was his outgoing personality, all of us who have had the privilege to know him, knew that underneath was a sensitive person who cared deeply for all those he worked with and all those he knew. I can honestly say that in all the years that I have known him, I have never met anyone who had a bad opinion of him.

That, I think, says it all."