I was fortunate to serve a little bit of my apprenticeship under the big yin at Marchon circa 1978. Gosh what a horrid and vile mouth the big yin had which was a culture shock to me upon first meeting him. Whats more; I wasn’t well at that time but after my initial shock of his larger than life, franker than frank attitude what a character he was. We didn’t always see eye to eye but truly the big yin had a massive, kind and loving heart of gold. His family meant everything to him and that is the true measure of a soul. Therein I remember the big yin fondly and my time with him, big alf, sandy black, harry cornish and jeff rason - finer men we don’t breed anymore. So in closing I send my love and deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of that kells legend and true giant of a man, rest well big yin.

Two funny memories:-

(1) I remember him coming out and giving me both barrels as a little boy for shouting outside his house 1 mid street I sense Graham was only a baby at the time. My kells secondary school mate at the time Geoff Garrett who lived next door to him said; “don’t mess with him marra, he’ll flatten thu”

(2) I was walking my little lurcher up kells backs his name was Ricky and I happen to say “here Ric, here Ric” to which the big yin said; “Eric, eric who calls a dog eric?” And that was it everyone in DEW marchon main engineering workshop thought I had a lurcher called Eric and the Big Yin just loved that 🤣

See you soon big yin.🙏