Some really sad news.

I started playing poker 10 years ago at Reading Casino in the £10 game , three times a week i would turn up and 3 times a week " lucky Bob " would make the final , or at least it seemed like it . Many players befriended me and one of them was this lovely guy with a cheeky smile called Bob , over the next few years we started to travel together and i am proud to say i was one of the players he taught .

Bob is a very private man so i was delighted when Joy invited Kay and i to his 50th birthday , in return we asked if they would like to have Sunday dinner with us , for the next 5 years we spent every available Sunday with Bob and Joy , we would have dinner then go to the cinema , Bob was with me when we recorded Late Night Poker and has always helped me with my game . After Kay and i split up she maintained the tradition and eventually both Bob and Joy started to see me with Mathilde , i was so lucky to have found two wonderful friends who accepted my situation without judgement , Kay and i are still the best of friends and often the 5 of us would go out , i knew i was blessed with such great friends in my life .

When Bob and Joy came to Paris in August Mathilde and i were there and met up with them for dinner two nights and spent a day visiting the Louvre , walking in the Paris sunshine and eating ice creams and Joy looked fantastic , memories i will keep forever . I can honestly say i have never seen a happier couple , whether we went to a casino , a day at the races or just played a game of scrabble they really were pefect together .

I only knew Joy for the last 8 of the 36 years Bob spent with her and i like anyone who was lucky enough to be in their company loved them both , she really was one of a kind , always smiling and just being Joy , i will miss her so much and when Bob needs me i'll be here for him .

I had no intention of writing anything until i read Bobs first reply and then i just needed to .

The world has lost a very special person .

Love Simon & Mathilde