What sad news! Even though I knew for a little while that Don was ill, his recent decline and today’s death have come as a shock. I’d like to post a brief tribute. There were a few people who had been members for longer of the original “Amateur Volleyball Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland” so it was a privilege for me (constitutionally, my club) to have been invited to propose him as Life President of the Association.

Don was a guy who could think outside the box before the concept had even been invented and, although it would sometimes prolong a meeting, he always guided it to a wise decision sometimes with firmness, more often with humour. This trait of character showed itself in the way he always left the actual decisions to the new generation – even during my early days in administration – while continuing to take an active interest in the way our sport was developing although never neglecting the personal touch and even though some five years have passed since I left the national scene, he has generously kept in touch with my volleyball activities. I shall miss him as will the hundreds in volleyball that his life has touched and I’m sure the sport will too.