Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien

I got some very sad news yesterday, Seb Masawi passed away on April 8th. I met Seb at NBC Camps three years ago, he was a true NBC’er. He had time for everyone at camp, was truly committed to the sport and had some amazing insights into life. I will always remember the talk he gave two years ago on Dreams without Limits, I still try to live to those principles today.

Alot has already been said in the media about Seb’s death but to me that is irrelevant. I’ll always remember him as the kind hearted and inspiring man whom I can only hope to be half as good as.

Rest in Peace Seb.

“Challenge your dreams, each and every one of you. Don’t be satisfied with what you have but further your dream to the best of your ability.” - Seb Masawi

Sad news arrived at Dunne Towers today. The legendary TV Presenter and prankster Jeremy Beadle has died. I remember watching Game For A Laugh, Beadle’s About and You’ve Been Framed during my ill-spent youth. I also had the great pleasure of meeting him when he came to the Isle of Man many years ago.

Well, I say meeting him, but that’s not wholly accurate. More I had the great childhood pleasure of being elbowed out of the way by burly adults seeking his autograph and getting my mum to queue and shove on my behalf all for a name-like scribble. I don’t remember what happened to that piece of paper but hopefully I still have it.

Sad day, sad day.

Well I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t somewhat upset.

I watched two programmes from Channel 4 today about two legendary people. One was called Alex, about a 16 year old named Alex Stobbs who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis yet who still managed to conduct one of Bach’s most challenging pieces of music. The other, The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off, was about Jonny Kennedy, a 36 year old with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa a devastating disease whose sufferers blister at the slightest touch but who lived a full and rewarding life.

They lead by example and I only hope I can follow.

Legends both.

“I know inside that there’s more to life than this mortal coil. It’s a very shallow minded person who thinks that somebody is born and dies and that’s it.” - Jonny Kennedy 1966 - 2003