Friends of Adam Thurston

Jon & Kika Williamson	Marcus Franks	Antonia Hynd	Ellie Lane	Bob Harris	Kate Seymour
Dr Vernon Armitage	Louise Gates	Clare Savereux	Stuart Merrifield	Amandine Gagniere-Hall	Paul Gates
Jake Featherstone	Lucy Swift	Jane Hinton	Margaret Fuller	Elizabeth Livermore	Simon Dickson
Damian Blackburn	Alex Barr	Clare Sporle	Cam Brockie	David Thurston
Tony Briam	John Brodrick	Keith Dalton	Carol Carr	Samantha Baber-Scovell
Grethe Lavender	Claire Priestner	Ali de Lisle	Alis Pay	Lawrie Baber-Scovell
Andrew Goldin	Julian Owen	Mark Digby	Fiona Morris	Holly Ritchie

One of Adam's strengths was that he knew his own mind - he knew what he liked and what he disliked. He then had great fun getting what he liked and avoiding what he disliked.

One example of the former:
Vinicultural trips to Calais began by Adam avidly reading The Sun to find £1 ferry vouchers, then making good use of shareholder options on seats in Club Class. One night, having missed our boat home, dusk fell on a portacabin in Calais and witnessed Adam enlightening the P&O rep, and head office on his mobile, on what he expected as a valued customer and shareholder. Needless to say we returned in style on the next boat.

One example of Adam's ability to avoid what he disliked: at school cross country runs began at quite a pace for Adam, until, out of sight of school, he nipped behind a bush. The art was not to rejoin the race too early - he believed in letting others shine.

People, Panache and Port were three key pillars in Adam's life.

Family, friends, colleagues, everyone with whom he came into contact were fired by Adam's spark and won over by his personality. He liked nothing better than getting people together and acting as social glue.

Whilst hosting a party brought out Adam's panache, he always found time for individual friendships. Many a quiet evening was spent enjoying each other's company over port.

Jon & Kika

My immediate thoughts go back to Adam’s arrival at College and to the enthusiasm with which he shared his many gifts with SCA and DUCK. I recall being invited to Holly Street (always a great joy and a privilege) prior to an SCA meeting in College. In those days, when I was a sort of 'Proctor', it was my job to monitor student car parking in Durham and I was a bit taken aback by the number of cars in Holly Street. It turned out that one of them belonged to the Chief Constable and another to the Lord Lieutenent; so that was alright! It was typical of Adam that his charm and his courtesy enabled him so readily to make friends with all those people and the University and the local Community derived great benefit accordingly. There is no doubt that the present success of SCA is due in large measure to Adam and those he inspired and SCA recognizes that gladly and with gratitude.
His work for the Pelaw Trust and for the College Governing Body was no less impressive. I was bitterly disappointed when the Pelaw Trust failed, but no one could have worked harder than Adam to rescue its vision. His continuing loyalty to the College Governing Body (Council as they now call it) was equally inspiring.I recall too that wonderful Poppy Appeal he organized, orchestrated would be a better word, which impressed everybody. Finally, was it at a DUCK presentation in the Town Hall that Adam and others responded to a challenge to do press-ups on stage? Needless to say he did more than anybody! But that was typical of him.

I have been speaking to Nicky and Nick over the last week and they have been telling me how once again, even when extremely ill, Adam had been defying the medical profession and refusing to give up. I hope that he is content once more now that his boundless spirit has escaped the confides of the frail body that has trapped him for so long now. You mention the courage and dignity with which he fought his illness, but these are qualities your entire family have shown over the last few years. I have nothing but admiration for the way you have coped.

I spoke to Nick yesterday morning just after you spoke to him and then sat on a plane for two hours, firstly thoroughly miserable but then I started thinking of the many, many brilliant times I have had with Adam (many outrageous and alcohol fuelled!). Knowing and being with Adam is something that I will never forget and I will make sure that his godson gets to know all about him too (although there are some bits which may have to wait until he is a lot older!). We will of course be there on Thursday and we will be celebrating his life for years to come, knowing full well that somewhere Adam is also celebrating and he is always one glass ahead!

Adam on Driving - We were on our way to Scotland when Adam was pulled over for speeding. He asked me to pass him his driving license from the glove-box, which I did. He looked at it and said 'No not that one, that's got too many points on it, pass me the other one...'

Adam on Burglary - Adam was arrested on suspicion of burglary at Durham. He was completely innocent of course. He had been locked out by a college firedoor and attempted to climb a wall to get back in. He unfortunately climbed into a private garden and landed in a rose bush where some dinner guests made a citizens arrest. The best part was that when he was taken to the Police Station, the Sergeant recognised him. Adam was the Student Crime Liason Officer!

Adam on Dancing and Flirting – Adam and I were at a nightclub and I asked him to show me some of techniques for attracting woman. Without fail, he whirled onto the dancefloor and started to swagger towards two girls as the Bee Gees played. As Adam reached the girls, the record changed and some hard rock started playing. Adam’s swagger turned into a very fast hopping motion. The two girls quickly moved as I believe they thought he was having some kind of fit!

Adam on DIY - I returned to Holly Street one term to find the bathroom light would not turn off. Adam had replaced a ceiling rose but had made a hash of the wiring. I suggested that I might fix it, but rather than trouble me Adam suggested we could just buy an Energy saving lightbulb in order to save electricity..

Adam in Drag - This one basically speaks for itself. We went to an Australian themed evening where fancy dress was required. There were a number of kangaroos, sheep, Crocodile Dundees, etc, but Adam stood out dressed as Dame Edna Everage. Red suit and jacket, matching pill-box hat, sparkly glasses and wooden tulip (nearest thing to a gladioli he could find). Need I say more..

Coffee Chocolate Pots - These required 6 tablespoons of strong black coffee (liquid), but Adam used 6 tablespoons of strong black GROUND coffee. The result was rather potent and most useful for grouting tiles

Salmon Mousse - Adam made the mistake of using two bulbs of garlic instead of two cloves He basically took two BULBS of garlic, broke them up into cloves and dropped them in unchopped. We thought they were cashew nuts, what a surprise we had!

Chocolate Mousse - I thought this was rather good, especially the hazelnuts, until I discovered there weren't any hazelnuts in it, just lumps!

Adam was a man of boundless energy. He always made time for you, even when he didn't really have the time and never liked to let anyone down. Wherever he went and whatever he did he would always make an impression and earned a great deal of respect from many people. I am honoured to have been able to call Adam my friend and my life is richer for the time I spent with him.

Jake Featherstone

Adam always did everything with such courtesy and style and in a manner that seemed to me to be driven by his deep sense of duty to place his many talents at the disposal of others; every piece of his precious time was given so freely to those of us who asked. His loyalty and contribution to the College of St Hild and St Bede and the wider Durham University community is unrivalled; it has been a real privilege working alongside Adam since 1991 both in our student days at College and in latter years serving with him on the College Council. I learnt so much from him, he shared his wisdom and insight about many things with me on our frequent restaurant car meals travelling back on the train from Durham. I will miss him so much but will always treasure the time we spent together.

Damian Blackburn

All Adam's friends at Clifford Chance are desperately sorry to hear of his death. I saw many of them on Thursday morning to give them the news, and it once again showed the tremendous esteem in which he was held. Adam was such a great guy, a good friend, a very kind and thoughtful young man, a bon viveur, and a great asset to the firm with a bright future ahead. It was a privilege to have known and worked with him, and his passing at this stage in his life is so tragic.

I would like you all to know what a great friend Adam has been to me - ever
since I first met him in Bahrain some years ago. He really did have a heart
of gold and I will miss him terribly.

Grethe Lavender

As you know, Adam and I were old friends.

I tried to count the number of very special things he did for me and it became easier for me to simply count the number of days i knew him; they were lesser in number.

And it seems, in true Adam style, that in his passing away, he continues to give to me. I think there was always a part of me that was afraid of dying. Now, i look forward to it; not because i do not love life but because i look forward to seeing my old friend once again.

When we were boys together at school, adam and i used to enjoy music together. there was a song that he liked; it was "we are sailing" - he said that if he ever died, he wanted it played at his funeral service. i never thought that i would be passing that message on.

I am devastated.

Andrew Goldin

My thoughts are with you and the family at this time. Adam touched many peoples lives and did much more in his short life than many do in theirs. He will be missed.

I know how it is to have a fantastic big brother and I can't imagine how it is to lose one. I have been thinking of you all over the past few days, and would like to send my love and warmest wishes to you and your parents and Emma.

Adam meant a great deal to me too. He looked after me so well over the years: at Durham (both when he was there and I used to visit them all and also once he had helped me to get there), at parties on the boat by Kew Bridge; when he came to stay with us in the University holidays, during my numerous visits to Calbourne Road, at Law School, at CC (after another helping hand) and afterwards. He taught me so much, including his own particular brand of lawyering (lessons I won't forget!) and, as he used to remark to colleagues and clients (!) when we worked together, one of his achievements was teaching me to drink! A very capable teacher! He was my replacement big brother whilst Paul was in Australia and a fantastic replacement he was too. Above all he was a great, great friend and one that I'll miss but certainly won't forget.

I will write to your parents under separate cover, but I am very grateful for their kind hospitality over the past few years, letting me come down to see Adam in your home and share more fun times and laughter. As I know I don't need to say, he was a very special fellow.

Louise Gates

I first met Adam as Kate had started her theatrical ways at Durham when I was a mere 17. Kate had informed me that she couldn't pick me up from the train station and was sending a friend called Adam. So I popped on the train all nervous and excited but not realising that she hadn't described Adam to me, nor me to Adam. So there I was getting off the train looking/searching around for a face. The platform cleared and there was Adam, tall dark and handsome in a long dark coat with the Lady Diana type eyes saying in his very English voice "Lucy very nice to meet you". Well, the next instalment was interesting, I ran behind him to the car; him with his long legs me with my little stumpy ones. Got in the car and well....... if anyone knew Adams driving you can imagine what I saw. Fast .....screeech stop.....roundabout on one wheel......screech stop. Well by the time I reach the halls I was ready to run away. Yes, that was Adam: never one to dilly dally!

Adam came to visit me on many occasion at my many places of work. At Claridges, he would come and try out the champagnes and nice wines. He came to see me on both of my ski seasons and I remember mad experiences of watching him falling all over the place in some very deep snow. One funny experience was when he came out to see me with Nick and the snow did not stop falling. Nick was left behind (lucky him!) whilst we braved the weather. The deep snow stopped any skill at all and we had many experiences of going along perfectly happily then a deep patch hit and all three ended up trying to find each other under mounds of snow. Adam as always there at the front encouraging us to “Catch up”!!!

My last ski experience with Adam was when he visited us at Christmas three years ago in Morzine. In true Adam style, this was a last minute thing and he promised to “Pop in and see us!”. We ended up skiing along in the rain and snow and Adam pursuaded us that it would be a much better idea to stop and eat. After finishing a few good bottles of red wine, he proceeded to sing his way down the slopes, a liability to all especially me, as he flew straight into me knocking me backwards down the slope!

Lucy Swift

Adam was unique; extraordinarily generous, loyal, and a gregarious host. All this was combined with a wicked and magnetically appealing sense of humour that made him the highly liked and respected bon viveur that he was.

I have many happy memories of Adam and remember clearly the day when we first met, in Lucy's kitchen in Fulham. The latter memories of happy dinner parties and New Year's eve celebrations and Durham weddings are equally sharp despite Adam's attempts at making sure my glass was never empty.

Adam gave us a bottle of vintage champagne as a present some time ago, which we had been saving to drink on the right occasion. Our new daughter Eleanor Rose arrived 4 days ago, and tonight Lucy and I are going to raise a glass of this wonderful looking champagne, and reflect on the passing of one exciting and vibrant life and welcome the arrival of another.

I hope Adam would have approved.

Adam was a young man of immense charm who had made a start on a career in the City that would have taken him a long way. I realised when we were both on the Watts Board that Adam had wisdom beyond his years and it is a great loss that his wisdom will no longer be available to the Board of the family business.

It is with much sadness to hear of Adam passing away. He was not only a colleague but a dear and valued friend. I will never forget the fun that we had working on projects, the social occasions which Adam was always at the centre of nor the way he educated me on legal issues. He will be sadly missed and in my job there is not a day that goes by when I don't think of him and what he would say to me when we were at meetings.

Words, I know, will only help a little for you and your family at this point. I am so sorry you have lost your great friend and brother. As you know, I had the pleasure to meet Adam during his time in Czech and he certainly had a zest for life and an eagerness to enjoy all things good.

I have such wonderful memories of Adam - such a charismatic and interesting person - always in the middle of the action and enjoying himself.

I have not seen Adam since I left the UK some 5 years ago but we managed to keep in contact via periodic emails & Christmas cards. We spent a lot of time working together in the UK during the late 1990's and he was a joy to work with, both professionally and personally.

His life will continue through the impact he made on the many people he met. Myself and 2 other colleagues here in Singapore who worked with Adam on the same project have often thought and talked about him over the years and so it might be some consolation to know that his memory lives on in all corners of the globe.

My memory of him revolves around his ever ready smile and laughter with an ability to always have a positive outlook on life.

Clare Savereux

I would like you to know that I would really like to attend any celebration of Adam's life. As you say he was someone who touched many peoples lives and should be remembered as so. He was an inspiration to many, myself included.

Adam was an amazing guy, and his drive and enthusiasm should be an example to us all - he achieved so much more than most people do in a lifetime and I'm sure there will be many impressive aspects of his life for you to celebrate next week.

The immense love and respect that you felt for brother, Piers, was always obvious to me, and I'm sure was very much appreciated by Adam.

I have known Adam for just a few years, while we worked on a project. However, you will know that he was enormously hard working and lived life to the full; he was also interested and interesting and great fun to have around.

Keith Dalton

He had the kindest possible manner and used to respond with great humour and equal cheek to the gentle ribbing we gave him about his dress sense (mainly the strategically placedpuffed handkerchief and his bow tie)! We had many great parties and Adam was always the life and sole, he had a huge amount of energy. I remember when he got posted over to Germany/Prague (exact location escapes me) and how sad we were that our favourite property guy from CC had gone. No one could nor did fill his shoes.

I'm ashamed that the last time I saw Adam was nearly 18 months ago at an InterGen party for the closing of one of our projects (Spalding) in St Andrews, although it was obvious that he was not
well he was on great form, I sat next to him at dinner and he'd lost none of his ability to give as good as he got and we all had a great evening.

I've followed his news through Simon over the past few months and can't express enough to you how very sad I am to hear that Adam has died and my thoughts and prayers are with you, Emma and all of the family.

With my best regards

I had the great pleasure of working with Adam in 2000 and 2001 while we were building a gas pipeline in South Wales. During the many hectic months that we worked together on this sometimes difficult project, Adam and I formed a close friendship. I was continually impressed with Adam's energy, enthusiasm and integrity. His experience, together with his ability to calmly analyze a situation, kept me, and our project, out of trouble on many occasions.

You are to be congratulated on raising such a fine, honest and caring person who comported himself with the utmost of dignity at all times. I was sorry, when my career took me away from the United Kingdom in late 2001, that we could not contrive to spend any more time together.

Again, please accept my condolences.

With sadness,

Mark Digby

Adam was a wonderful guy who touched many lives and will be dreadfully missed. Paul & I have been emailing our memories of him to each other and laughing at the top-speed way in which he lived his life, in between grieving for the loss of a great friend.

I have so many memories I don't know where to start. I suppose some are nearer the front of my mind, like him doing DIY (!) - putting up shelves in Holly St which then fell down.. his always hoovering at 9am on a Sunday when we all had hangovers and wanted to sleep.... his crazy white-knuckle driving which made us all carsick and terrified, especially the way he always sat in the fast lane doing 60mph (with little kangaroo hops every now & then) conducting along to his favourite opera.... his affinity with Landrover man... him inviting top brass at the Durham constabulary to Holly St for drinks and getting some dignitary's wife so tipsy she sat on the stairs playing with the slinky... the way he always left the cherry yoghurt for Luce & I because he didn't like them... and then, his incredible generosity, his ability to get on with people, his drive and motivation, his positivity, his kindness and thoughtfulness. His terrible taste in music and his great taste in wine. I suppose the memory which is one of the most bitter-sweet is his constant refrain during our 3rd year that Paul would replace Jeremy Paxman and Ads would be prime minister. He lived at least 64 years-worth in his 32 and brought so much to his relationships with people, but now we all have to live the rest of our lives enriched for having known him but sad without him.

Even though you have been prepared for it, I can't imagine anything really prepares you for the reality. I hope that, once the busyness of just now calms down, you can remember his sense of humour, his ability to talk to all sorts of people, and his capacity for wine (& women!!) and that you manage through.

It feels wrong that such a luminous and singular life should be subject to anything that prevents it fulfilling its full potential. Will always be wondering what could have been.

You'll hear this from everyone, and rightly so - you have been the best brother he could ever have hoped to have. Please pass on deepest sympathies from Zuzka and myself to the family.

Stuart Merrifield

I can't find words to tell you how sad I feel that you have lost Adam. You were brothers in the best senses of the word. There will be a huge hole in your life which you will probably never completely fill. Everyone who knew Adam will miss him greatly. He may have been here for far less time than might have been expected, but those of us who were privileged to know him and witnessed the special way he coped with his illness will never forget him.

Margaret Fuller

I find it very difficult to express my sympathies for the pain you and your family are suffering at this time of great loss. All I can tell you is that it was an honour and privilege to both work, and spend time socially, with your brother.

Cam Brockie

The last time I saw Adam was on the 20 February, when he attended our College Council. He was in good spirits and certainly contributed to the meeting. He also thanked the Committee (as Adam would) for their patience during his illness and apologised that he had missed some of the meetings. It was also good that we were able to see Emma again. Needless to say the response from all those present was one of gratitude to him for his continued support for College and that that support had never faltered. He loved the College and the work he did for it over the years, both as a student and as a College Governor, was immense. I am sure the Principal will write to you regarding this.

As you know, Adam was one of the founders of Student Community Action. Through his vision and industry thousands of Durham students and people in the local community have benefited in all sorts of different ways. So much so that SCA is now one of the main Student Society flagships of the University. I'll never forget some of the functions he organised, including a drinks reception at 8 Holly Street to which people like the Mayor of Durham and the Lord Lieutenant of the County were present and little Holly Street had all these limousines parked outside! But that was Adam!

On a more personal note, Adam and I became friends when he first came to Durham. It was hard not to become his friend! How could you resist this handsome, charming young man with impeccable manners. As the months progressed he became a personal friend of both my husband Mike and myself and we have enjoyed many happy times together. We feel very blessed to have shared his friendship and he was very special to us.

I can't imagine how you, your parents and Emma must be feeling. You are all in our thoughts and our love and prayers are with you. I will be attending the funeral on Thursday with Alan Pearson (the Principal) and his wife Dorothy. Unfortunately Mike is unable to attend.

With love

Carol Carr

I worked with Adam in the Property Dept at CC when I was in London. I am now with CC in Brazil but Tony passed on the news to me.

Adam has such a special place in my heart - we were good work colleagues and given that we both spent so much time at work we became friends. 7.00/7.30am every morning - Adam would walk past my office on the way to his and he would stop in to have a chat.

And then there were the lunches when we would gossip about our respective bosses (Paul and Tony) and speculate on what they were up to. There was the time when we were out at a work do and we were both a but tipsy. Adam, as always impeccably dressed, was wearing a purple tie and I was looking for a purple tie for my boyfriend (now my husband). Somehow I ended up buying it off Adam - he sold it to me for 15 pounds and James my husband would wear it to work sometimes - James is also at CC and worked with Adam on a Projects matter - and they would have a good laugh about it. James would wear it when he was going to have a meeting with Adam. Meanwhile the Projects dept who loves a bit of gossip had found out that I had bought the tie off Adam one drunken night which was now being worn by an up and coming Projects lawyer and were exchanging e-mails behind our backs - although I reckon old Adam had spilled the beans !

What a big personality he was ! His life was shorter than anyone would have hoped but he packed a lot into it ! Adam fitted in a remarkable amount into his day/night. Gosh he worked hard and played hard. Adam was loved by so many people and will be sorely missed. When I think of Adam I think of him smiling - with a twinkle in his eye and that is how I will remember him always.

I would be grateful if you could pass this e-mail on to Emma as James and I met up with her and Adam at Christmas.

What is so unbearably sad, but also so wonderful to remember about Adam, is the huge enthusiasm he had for life and for getting the most out of it. His humour and joie de vivre were incredibly infectious and it is for that that I will always remember him with great affection.

I recall that I worked closely with him for some time on a project for a telecoms client. We had weekly update meetings every Wednesday and Adam, although only newly-qualified, was the star turn of every meeting – his inevitably late arrival was always greeted with much anticipation. He would regale us with tale after tale of his trips around the country, cajoling and bribing grouchy old farmers and landowners to allow cables to be laid under their land; being chased with pitchforks and sheepdogs along the way. Those were probably the only legal meetings I have been to where the participants regularly fell about with laughter!

For the same client we had to negotiate a deal in Amsterdam, in a cupboard-like meeting room at Schipol airport. Things went painfully slowly, with much bickering and argument. We anticipated being in the cupboard for at least four or five days. But that evening, Adam, true to form, led the charge at the bar, made sure that everyone's glass remained topped up all night and managed to create a great sense of camaraderie out of nothing. And so, despite the hangovers, the deal was wrapped up the next day in the best of humour.

Adam was a true star. He will be very greatly missed and very fondly remembered.

With all best wishes.

Fiona Morris

I'm not sure that my memories are publishable! They centre on “Le Roti”, our home in France, and the various invasions by the Durham gang led by Adam. I remember "corvée'ing" them into painting the kitchen. Three hours later it was done and they all looked like reversed-out dalmations!

Then the time when Ads and Kate were due to visit some posh lawyers (if such exist ) in Paris. It was decreed that the shirts/blouses were not up to scratch so there was Adam, standing at the ironing board in his boxers, and doing his stuff on the offending items.

And staggering down into our infamous neighbour, Claude's, bar to try one of his poisonous " eau de vie " concoctions. I remember huge meals prepared by my wife, Mary, who took the view that the Durham lot all needed wining and dining properly because the diet at Durham was bound to have been mostly pizza and plonk. Monstrous card games - in all senses - and concomitant whisky consumption.

Here is a good photo, if a little sad, of Ads and Mary looking at some snaps. Le Voila!

Bob Harris

It was with immense sadness that I read your message regarding Adam. I used to work with Adam and moved to the US just before Adam was diagnosed.

I will always remember Adam as so much fun to be around. We worked hard, but we also played hard. He had a true sense of unity and family, which is so rarely found in the work place. Adam was so kind and dedicated to others. I will miss him greatly.

Amandine Gagniere-Hall

Over the years Adam has demonstrated to us all just how to make the most of every opportunity which presents itself. He really sucked the marrow out of life; he was very driven, he worked extremely hard and when he allowed himself to relax, he did it in style!

He travelled great distances to see people who were important to him, and on one memorable occasion, after having first declined the offer to join a group of us for a week's holiday in southern France (such was his dedication to his work ), he decided to 'pop down' for the weekend! Of course, he chose to travel by train and yet the long journey did nothing to dampen his enthusiasm or prevent him in any way from participating most fully in the weekend's activities. We were amazed at his staying power and our respect for him doubled when he made the 5 a.m. return train on the Monday!

Adam's ability to seize opportunities as they arose also presented itself in a far more altruistic way. As a neighbour of Kate's in Bede Gym in our first year at Durham, I was used to Adam's regular visits, either to or from lectures. One particular morning remains in my mind when my father had been visiting me in Durham. He was about to leave to do some examining in the Newcastle area as Adam arrived to see Kate on his way to a lecture. After several frustrating minutes of trying to start his car, Dad realised that the battery was flat. Adam had never met Dad before, but came to his aid immediately with a set of jump leads, and despite already being late for his lecture, remained there until the problem was sorted and Dad was on his way. Dad has often recalled his first meeting with ' Adam of the jump leads ' and remembers how heartening it was to be greeted so generously and assisted in such a selfless way by this lovely young man.

I think we all remember Adam for, amongst other things, that generosity of spirit and love of life. It was a privilege to have known him and I am sure that that spirit will live on in many of us.

At the age of 16, Adam went with his grandmother Frances, brother Piers and cousin Jack to Hong Kong via Moscow and the Transiberian railway. The entire trip, on train, boat and plane was organised by, of course, Adam himself.

Here he is waiting on the platform for the afternoon train to Vladivostok, a week away.

David Thurston

It is no surprise to me that the dress code is 'double cuffs and hats'! As a cousin living close by, Adam and I went to the same Prep School - Brightlands, in Newnham. Now converted into homes, it was a lovely school headed by Mr & Mrs Bird, overlooking the river Severn, not forgetting the dog Shelley. Infact it was the closing of the school and its subsequent conversion that Adam became closely involved with, trying to find a way of raising funds to keep it open as a school that so many of us had attended and retained such fond memories of. Adam was Head Boy when I was there, and doing very well. My mother always used to say 'how well those Thurston boys are turned out'!! Infact, I am convinced that if Adam had been allowed, it would have been 'double cuffs and hats' at Brightlands too!

So I have the greatest respect for Adam. Not just his dress-code, but his remarkable personality. To consistently maintain so much dignity and poise throughout his life along with compassion for his fellow companions, demonstrates a true strength of character. Adam was truly a remarkable person, who must have inspired many others, and not just myself.

I only got to know Adam since his illness, and he was immediately very enjoyable company. Straight away I thought of him as a true gentleman. I specifically remember Adam telling me he had a signed photograph of Margaret Thatcher by his bed - and would joke that he kissed it every night before going to sleep (knowing my horrified reaction!). Despite Adam's illness, he always remained a true gentleman.

I was very very very sad to hear the news about Adam as will our entire family be and am very frustrated to be so far away as I will thus be unfortunately unable to make the funeral.

On behalf of the Ritchie family - who adored Adam's great sense of humour and personality - I can say that Adam will be very very much sorely missed especially as he was often the life and soul of alot of out parties from Bahrain days! Besides that he has been a great friend to us all and tremendously loyal.....We definitely could never ever forget him.... Piers you have been an amazing support for Adam as has your whole family over the last couple of years and all of us would love to keep in touch with you...Please send our love to all

I will always remember the final words of Nick Harris’ speech at Adam’s thirtieth birthday. He described his great friendship for Adam and said “He introduced me to my wife, was Best Man at my wedding and is Godfather to my first born Son”. It struck me that I could also say similar things about Adam’s affect on my life and that I would not be alone. Adam affected everyone he knew in a very special way.

I met Adam at the very first Formal Dinner at Durham. I thought he was really quite a pleasant chap – really interesting (he had done a lot!) but also very interested in everything everyone else had to say. In fact, he was so attentive that I thought he had ulterior motives, so I kept talking about my boyfriend! He always denies this, but knowing Adam – who knows the truth?!

Adam lived life at a million miles an hour! He crammed every minute of his life and I remember asking him how he managed to do it, when he started work. He said that he refused to miss out on any of his many friends or any social occasion just because he had to work the incredible hours he did. He kept in touch with people like no one else I know and travelled miles and miles to do so. I am sure that Adam has travelled as many, if not more, miles on my behalf than anyone else I know! The classic time was when we were at Kirsty’s birthday party (in Scotland) one weekend. We were talking about the fact that the following weekend, a group of 10 of us were going to stay in a French Gite in the Dordogne. Not wishing to miss out, Adam decided that he would try and join us, and join us he did! He took the TGV from Paris and (two or three bottles of wine later!) he arrived with us on the Saturday evening. We then had a very packed and very alcoholic couple of nights and he left at 5am on the Monday morning for a meeting in Paris. He had travelled for at least 10 hours to be with us, had very little sleep and then made it back for his meeting the next day! The following year, a similar group went to Scotland and we worked out that an equivalent “journey to time spent with us ratio” would mean that he would have to spend 10 minutes with us travelling from London!

Over the years, Adam collected me from Leicester and Rouen(!) whilst being in Durham. He visited me in Paris, we met up in Australia…. I could go on!!!! To blow my own trumpet for a bit…. I put up with his driving.. enough said!!!

Adam was extremely efficient and organised. For years, if I wanted to go anywhere, I would ring and ask Ads the best way to do it… he knew most of the railway timetables by heart! Adam was living with Mum and Dad when I made my training applications. I arrived home one day to find that Ads had organised all of the applications: the easiest and most pressing in one pile, the longer ones in another. He had worked out that I needed to do 2.5 applications an evening and I would have them done in a week! When I applied to Burges Salmon, it was on Adam’s laptop that I wrote the cv and covering letter; all with his assistance, of course!

Beneath this hyper efficient exterior, though, was probably one of the most caring, thoughtful and generous people I have ever known. Adam remembered things about people – what they liked (and didn’t!). Mum always talks of the eight bottles of sherry he bought for her when he left Westminster Road. He liked the fine things in life especially fine dining and I blame a large proportion of my student debt on Adam! He is the only one of my friends who has endured treating me to Champagne at the Ritz to be paid back with burnt fish fingers at my place! He taught me a different way to enjoy skiing, unsurprisingly, this involved not much skiing but plenty of drinking and eating!

Adam felt things strongly. We had many passionate debates… mostly from completely different ends of the political spectrum. He always had plenty of facts to back up his beliefs. I had airy fairy ideas that probably frustrated him intensely!! Who can forget the first time I came to stay at “Highbury” when Adam kindly arranged for me to help the Conservative party canvass at the Polling Station in Lydney? How were we ever friends?!? His love of all things European was admirable. I will always remember waving him “Goodbye!” as he raced down the cobbled streets of Rouen, “Rule Britannia” blaring on his stereo and the Union Jack at the window.

Adam was a rock in my life. He was more like a big Brother than a friend; incredibly supportive, caring, generous and great fun. Put simply, Adam was my very best friend.

You'll be unsurprised to learn that most of the anecdotes about Adam are highly inappropriate, although every one of them makes me smile. Particular favourites include the Police flagging him down for speeding in Durham, only to then drive past shouting 'had you worried, Adam', and having to move out of Holly St while he recreated my room (and I think Ellie's) as a study and dressing room in order to support his (and consequently Nicky's) exhorbitant holiday insurance claim for lost luggage.

Oh - and after he had received his offer from Clifford Chance, he went down to London for another interview with a big law firm and acted as arrogant as possible (imagine), just to see what would happen. "The question is not why you should offer me the job, but why I should want to work for you". They offered him the position. Genius.

Adam's ability to make friends with people from all walks of life occasionally astonished me. Everyone knows how hard working and driven Adam was; he carried and attached an enormous sense of responsibility and duty to everything he did, one of the reasons why he was so successful and so trusted. He was very aware of his actions - the first person I knew to regularly keep a diary. But I mostly remember his love for all the people who were close to him; a man who was non-judgemental, fiercely loyal, and a true friend.

Paul Gates

In terms of memories of Adam there are so many throughout our time at Durham and thereafter that it is hard to capture in words the character of the man or the energy and sense of fun he brought to every occasion.

Whether it be his unusual style of dancing or, on one trip to Scotland, his total lack of ability to strike a golf ball, hilarity always ensued. His tendency to throw splendid parties that would go on into the early hours and beyond became almost as legendary as his driving of which the less said the better.

Perhaps my favourite memory of Adam was a particular dance he did at a dinner party at Ed Guest’s house which few present on that evening will ever forget or maybe when, on the evening of Nick and Minnie’s wedding, he attempted to hide from a particularly irate concierge behind a plant pot which contained a sapling attached to a piece of bamboo. Even Adam’s slight frame could not prevent the concierge and all other guests in the lobby having a fairly good idea as to his location.

Aside from memories of the good times which we all recall, I will remember Adam not just for his fun loving nature but also as a generous and decent man who would do all he could to help his many friends in times of need. It was this kindness and loyalty which I believe made him so popular with such a diverse group of people.

To those of us lucky enough to have known Adam his passing is a great tragedy not just for the friend we have lost but also for the loss of his boundless energy, enthusiasm and potential which no doubt would have been used to do great things.

I am very sorry not to be at the funeral on Thursday but my thoughts will be with you all and particularly with Adam’s family.