We met mabs when he was 8 years old when he lived in larch way. I lived in cedar close and nibs lived in sycamore drive. We were always together and always up to no good, like the time a car was dumped outside nibs’ house. We played in it every day until eventually we stripped it, we completely took it apart, it was probably the first clue of mabs keen interest in cars. Around about the same time we decided to build a tree house on the side of the dual carriageway. There was me mabs nibs and lee skidmore, we borrowed the wood from the building site and considering it was a bunch of ten year olds that built it, it wasn’t a bad effort. Unfortunately it wasn’t long before the police paid us a visit and that put an end to our fun and our tree house. We went through our teens together and there was never a dull moment. Something’s we just can’t repeat. As you all know mabs loved cars, his first car was a mini which was bought by his mum but unfortunately he managed to smash it up within the first week on asda hill. Perhaps this led to his love of banger racing, one thing i will never forget about mabs and banger racing is when everyone else was going to the start line, mabs was still putting his crash helmet and gloves on, he always forgot something. Another thing that sticks in my mind is the countless times mabs would ring me for a lift. He would always tell me to pick him up as soon as possible, he was never ready and i would always end up joining him for a drink. He had no concept of time. Although mabs loved cars and banger racing his real love was his son Jenson.Mabs was so devoted to his son even before he was born that he signed himself out of hospital to see the first scan, There was no way he was going to miss it regardless of the risk to his health.Mabs was more than a mate, he was my best friend dad and brother all rolled into one. He will never be gone to us, we know he’s not going to walk in the room but he will always be with us. God bless you mate x