There are some people who just pass you by There are some people who smile And some shake hands And some give a high five. But that is not the way of Terry Keepe He would place his hands around you He would give you a lung-shattering pat on the back Followed by an enormous bear hug And the next thing you knew you would be hoisted off the ground. Up in the air. Like a sack of potatoes. Such was the generosity and strength of his greeting. All that – unless you had the agility to sidestep being lifted in the air. Our Mother was very skilled at fending off these bear hugs! She had this amazing trick with the tea towel which she would flick at him – painfully. Unfortunately, our Mother died before she could teach me the art of the tea towel flick. But I’ve been practising so … Terry Keepe you have it coming to you! Terry was my mother’s favourite, at least that’s what we thought when we were growing up but I don’t remember minding because we loved him too. We just counted the number of sausages he got on his plate (to make sure he didn’t get more than us). Terry loved his rugby and he continued to support Ireland but he forgave Michael for playing scrum-half for England! He used to ring me and we would talk endlessly about rugby. Latest stuff was about how the VAR rule was different in rugby league as compared to rugby union. He also told me about his frequent visits to St Paul’s Church where he talked to our parents and our little brother, David. He had his Christian certainty that he would see them again. He would also tell me jokes. Many, many Jokes and each of them perfectly innocent. So innocent that I could tell them now. If I could remember them; they were eminently forgettable! I didn’t care, I just loved to hear Terry laughing (at his own jokes!) Terry, I might forget your jokes but I won’t forget you. Terry was comfortable in today’s world, up to date and on the ball. I’m sure his exuberance lasted until his final moments. Terry had such a capacity for love and for optimism. He gave of himself all the time. Truly his glass was always half-full. Probably with beer in the Lamp Oil. It was impossible not to love Terry He was a great colleague He was a great friend A wonderful partner to his beloved Joan A dear brother and a fun uncle. Farewell Terry