Old Blokes

Dave, Rick and Bob

In life you meet many people, some are like passing ships and move on and others become life-long friends. They are not on your doorstep every day and it may be months or years between meetings but when the chips are down, they are there to support and help you.

I'm fortunate in having a couple of old workmates, from my time at the Police Communications Unit back in the 1980s, who fit that description. I first met Bob Bell and Rick Thurbon when we were all relatively fresh-faced young coppers with young families. We worked together and at times we socialised and enjoyed each others company and the special comraderie that is unique to police officers.

Over the years we moved on and went in different directions but we'd catch up every few years and we always had lots to talk about. Then I had a heart attack in 2002 and one of the first visitors on the scene was Bob Bell. Bob was my most regular visitor and anyone who has been in hospital will know how important that is.

Years passed and Bob too had his medical problems (and still does like we all do) and we kept in touch and compared scars. Then Bob advised me that our old mate Rick was in hospital and was not travelling well. It was a difficult time for Rick, his beautiful wife Lyn and his kids. But Rick pulled through and we all caught up recently for lunch. It was a great day and an opportunity for us Old Blokes to shoot the breeze and reminisce about "The Good Old Days".

Thanks guys.....