I knew Frank when we were both students at the City of Liverpool College of Higher Education. I was a rather green and gauche young guy, but Frank took me under his wing and we became firm friends.

Frank and Helen loved folk music and were great hosts. I remember their house in New Brighton with its imperious and feisty moggie (Queen Mab) The wine (home made) flowed freely and we had a lot of fun on very little.

I heard about Frank's health problems when I was back in Liverpool in 2005. It was a shock, because the man I remember was full of life with a bone-dry Liverpool wit. Frank was an accomplished guitarist too.

He's gone but not forgotten. I am hundreds of miles away, but still invite people to 'pull up a cactus' - a classic Frank phrase!