Terribly sad and shocked to be writing this.

Chris Duckett and I had been in touch again before Christmas to arrange another WOP lunch (Waterloo Old Players) at St Anthony's Road. This was agreed for the 1st of February as it was also the birthday of my late brother Tony.

The Wops has been a tradition that often sees Lerpoolians appear and has, over the years, been a thread that keeps us all in touch.

The attached picture shows a particularly big day, as the great man himself, Alan Ashcroft (you can read his obituary published in The Times here), was present.

Seated next to Alan are Mark Flett and my brother Tony Pugh. In the back row, left to right, are Chris Duckett, Chris Walker, myself, Jasper Bartlett, Dave Rees, and Nick Langfield. Alan's sons Paul and Jason are also not in the picture.

We have had many such great days at Waterloo together.

CJ, you will be greatly missed by us all.