Fred and I were acquainted from his days at the University of Ulster in the late seventies and although of late we had had a few differences I never lost sight of his enthusiasm, integrity and ability. When it was reported that he was ill, I wrote to remind him of these things and to say how much I appreciated his qualities . While I'd like to join with the condolences to his family, my best thought is to be glad to have, possibly, lent him some sense of his worth in his last hours. I'm sad at his passing, it leaves me less.