So sad to wake up to the news of the passing of Graham Thorpe today. He was just 55yo and although it comes as a shock, his sudden disappearance from the public eye and the subsequent radio silence, suggested that he was seriously ill.

In our younger days, I had the pleasure of knowing Graham personally. I played both cricket and football against him and his brothers. He was such a down to earth guy with a very dry sense of wit.

I remember one particular game of football which was nothing more than Sunday morning league. It was like playing "Thorpe United". Graham and his brothers Ian and Alan both played, his dad reffed and his mum cut the oranges. Graham had just been selected for his first England A tour and was due to leave shortly afterwards. I asked him if he should be playing and what the ECB would say if he got injured. He simply said, "I'll just tell them I fell down the stairs. You have to live your life regardless". Those words are very poignant today of all days.

RIP Graham and condolences to your whole family.