What nostalgia this sad news has churned up, especially reading familiar and well-known names. Unsurprisingly, these are mostly from the wonderful world of bridge, and this humble author has certainly been thrown right back to the 70's, as have some other local contributors (aka 'blasts from the past'). I actually hadn't seen Max since the early days of the Aylesbury HQ, when a staff member was re-assured about a stranger (me) shopping in person for stationary. "Well, if Max greeted him like a long-lost friend, he must be OK!"

Precise memory fails me sometimes, but several of us were rather the "young things" at Stratford BC. I see familiar names on this site, also a mention of a former partner, Doris Haydon, a celebrity in her own field, before becoming one of the keen bridge members, alongside my own grandmother, one of her contemporaries. There was surely no issue from that older generation with the young Max's talented contribution to bridge, he was much respected for his manners.

His meteoric career served as an example of what can be achieved by dedication, and quite a few of his friends received inspiration, I'm sure, and it was a privilege to have followed news of it.

The world has lost a talented man, taken too early at that, and I hope Ros and Ben receive consolation from the many condolence messages.

Alan Lamb, Moreton in Marsh ..