Some of my fondest

"Some of my fondest teenage memories are those of the time spent in the McKinnie household. Waking up late on Saturday morning next to Sadie to hear the sound of Bill making a huge cooked breakfast with his prized Le Creuset pans. How could such a warm-hearted and fun-loving character fail to make an impression on me? I remember Sadie and I pulling the odd funny face when Bill was in the full flow of one of his 'mad half hours'. We were all trying to be cool then but we couldn't help but love that madness really. It was with this zany McKinnie perspective that I was first introduced to France and camping - needless to say it was a fantastic holiday, which I'll never forget.

A few years later he asked me to help out with the translation for a French civic delegation's visit to Sunderland, His passion for community projects was so inspiring to others that I was therefore only too happy to assist him with that one.

My thoughts are with you all at this sad time.

Catherine Towers (formerly Currie)"