I got to know Dom when I started seeing Phil – you couldn’t really have one without the other, it was often commented they were like an old married couple. Ah the bickering!
I can hear the two of them now and can’t stop the tears and pain in my heart.

Dom used Ebro Crescent as home when he came back to Cov from working away, Phil and I would laugh at how he would arrive with a travelling bag and gradually as the days wore on more and more stuff would spill out into the rest of the house, mostly newspapers, sports pages (of course) and world affairs. I’ll always be amazed at Dom’s ability to recall sporting events, dates and details – you’d want him on your quiz team for sure.

Thanks for championing the Gulshan in Cov – Dom’s personal recommendation sealed it as our crowd's must have Indian takeaway. The chefs were from Bangladesh so had it spot on. And Dom himself made a mean Dhal on many occasion

When we moved to Somerset we were on Dom’s route to his parents in Lyme and he was most pleased when we did out the utility room as a guest bedroom. The en-suite & underfloor heating made it pretty cosy, but for Dom the rowing machine in the corner and proximity to the wine store were perhaps the most attractive features – almost found ourselves a long term lodger!

Dom was the first to speak at Phil’s funeral, that is something I hold very dear. It means so much to me that he had the strength to pay tribute to his great friend when he must have been in such grief himself, as we all are so sadly and tragically again.

He continued to pop in during his Lyme trips and visited me during my chemo sessions, it was a breath of fresh air to go down the village pub, order a curry, have a few pints while waiting for it and talk about important things – like rugby. Male conversation was such a treat then. On one occasion I cooked but why I thought any of the huge Yorkshire pudding I’d made would be left over for me the next day I can’t even remotely imagine.

A few years later Dom invited me down to holiday with him, Dory and Lou in a caravan at Eype in Dorset a beautiful spot. Dom had spent so many years travelling and working away it was so lovely to see him with a family and to be with such a loving and caring person in Dory. Having visited them in Oxford on several occasions, I saw Dom’s illness progress but despite such enormous challenges they both showed great dignity and managed to find humour and share a laugh or two and a great deal of love.
My heart goes out to you Dory and I share your disbelief that such a wonderful man has left us.
with love Helen x