In Nov '85 I arrived in Brighton and needed a job. I wound up working at the "Hand in Hand" in Kemp Town. The owner also owned another pub, "The Eagle" in the North Laines area of Brighton, opposite another famous Brighton pub, "The Basketmakers." Working at the "Eagle" at the time as a young barmaid, was one Teresa Mitchell. I worked at the "Hand" for about a year and T & I became firm friends. We have seen each other through some interesting highs and lows over the years - which have variously involved dustbins, courtcases, nutcases, engagements (not ours!) and New Years Day jiving at the "Concorde." In 1987 I decided to go into the pub trade myself and took on the "Three Jolly Butchers." Guess who I asked to be barmaid No 1? Teresa was fab, doing a regular Friday night shift and often standing in when I couldn't (stand!). Sunday lunchtime became a legend - beer at 12, Prompt Corner for 2.30, where bra-removal & sock burning became the norm. About this time we learned of a guy just up the road who kept a pub called the "Sussex Yeoman." Apparently he played guitar a bit! And so we got to know J.C. I have been blamed for introducing Teresa and John to each other. Certainly there are allegations of serenades of Tom Petty's "Full Moon Fever" (our favourite album at thime) in the cellar at the "Yeo." The rest, as they say, is history. T & JC had " a season" and then he left the pub trade and went off to Portugal. I gained a partner and a son, Henry, to whom Teresa became godmother, and moved to Devon. I would like to record that she has never, not even through these last terrible months, missed a birthday or anniversary. A few years ago I was thrilled to hear that Teresa and JC had got back together again after all this time. I had just done the same! Four years ago my new wife Annette and I, after watching England beat Australia for the Rugby World Cup (sorry JC not football) drove to Brighton for T & JC's wedding bash. What a fabulous night! Sadly, since that occasion we havn't seen enough of them. We were devastated to hear of John's illness and like everyone else, terribly sad to hear that he had died. So to JC - thank you - for everything you did that made life better, brighter, funnier, more musical and more caring. But more than that, you made my best friend, and the best barmaid there has ever been, happy beyond belief. As to the charge of bringing Teresa and JC together? Guilty and f...ing proud of it! With all love Richard Gunter