Dear Hanne,

Paul and I were in the same tutor group at Ratton. I moved to Melbourne Australia in 2008, but monthly I check the announcements in the Herald / Gazette. I was sad to hear that Paul had passed away and I'm sending to you and your family.

I've been thinking about our time at Ratton, and us all being silly together with Mr Rowe and in his tutor group. We had a riotous trip to France; on the boat on the way home I remember him clearly sitting on my lap, my head on his shoulder. I don't want to get too personal on here about my MH issues, and why I wouldn't sit on his lap, because that would detract from what I want to share about Paul - that he was always kind to me. 

We kind of went out together, insofar that two kids in their early teen years do go out. No more than holding hands and hanging out on lunch breaks, but I used to lie in bed and sing 'Somewhere Out There' from An American Tail, feeling happy that someone, your Paul, wanted to be with me. 

I've said this before, and I know I will say this again; words feel so useless at a time like this, but they are all I have to comfort you. I don't have many happy memories of my time at Ratton, but since I heard about Paul yesterday, some memories of him have come back and they are all soft, gentle and kind. He was a good man, and I'm so sorry that he has gone.

Much love,

Maddie Grant