We first met in a small town in Yorkshire, two lone Scots in a room of nervous exam candidates from South of the border, all of us giving up a rare weekend to labour at the rock face of Finals and cramming in as much revision as possible. It was clear Al's huge brain had more capacity than most and he would go on to excel. His heart was large and open too, and we would later go on to work together in the specialty we both loved.

You loved and you were loved, Al, and so it will always be. 'Til we meet in the eternal party, mate. 1 Pet 5:10