Friendships can flourish in peculiar ways.  It  is  also  strange  on looking back,  how little  we  may know  about our friends.

Such  a  friendship  was  struck  up  several  years  ago  at  an  outdoor shooting  meeting.  How the initial acquaintance was struck up now escapes memory.  Whether  it  was  the  sight of this figure walking, no, hobbling would be a more apt description of the gait, up the range  to collect  his cards, but  words or condolences  passed,  and from there  the friendship grew. 

In  time  it  was  ascertained  that  his  name  was  Ian  G  Malcolm, secretive bunch,  we  shooters.  The easiest way to learn someone's name,  for  the  shy at  heart  anyway,  is  to  scan  the  cards  hanging on  the  targets.  The friendship  lasted  several  years  until  his untimely  death  in  the  Shetland helicopter  disaster. 

His  passing  seemed  to  leave  an  emptiness  in  many  hearts  as  we recalled his  dedication  to  his  chosen  sport,  and  the  amount  of effort  which  he  put  into  it.  It is gratifying to know that his daughter, Julie, is proving herself a worthy successor at the sport.