Post your thoughts

Ahhh, Thanks for comin Matt!!!! You will be and are already sorely missed mate, life just wont be the same here.

Peace
Bryn

I cannot believe it, and I don't want to believe it - Matt cannot be gone.

In some ways he took a big part of those of us who knew him when he went...but in return he left a huge part of himself with each of us as well. That's the bit I'm concentrating on:

The coffe with just two (no more and no less) teaspoons of milk...could never understand it but hey it was just Matt!

The fact that he loved Canibal Corpse but hated Deathstars - never never agreed with him on that either!

The fact that everything was always "beautiful"

Every time I think about it and him right now it hurts and I don't really think I knew him all that well; just shared the same bad taste in music...according to everyone except Stevie C and Tibor and the odd other closet rocker in the office (you know who you are!)

I'm typing this with tears running down my cheeks - it just goes to show that while I maybe didn't know him as well as others it does show how much people really did geniuinely care for him and how much light and joy he did bring - Rummo said that he'd kept him in stitches all day. Rummo also said that at times like these people run out all the nice things about someone but in Matt's case they are all 100% true.

I keep expecting him to pop up from behind his screen with some quip or loud complaint about how crap life is (although I know he never really meant it...he couldn't have 'cos he knew life was "beautiful".)

And that's a piece of Matt's philosophy I think we should all live by...."beautiful". He said it often and most of the time I think he meant it...unless he was being sarcastic and I was to daft to notice...but I don't think so.

I'm gonna miss him like hell but just typing this has brought a few grins and a faint smile by remembering.

Sorry if this has been a ramble but hopefully you'll agree with most if not all of it.

RIP Matt I'm really gonna miss you.

Mark

I think the response by everyone of absolute shock and sadness is testiment to how important he was to us all. Definately the life and soul of EC Harris and probably the funniest, most sharp-witted and filthy-minded individual I've ever had the pleasure to meet! When the conversation ended up in the sewer (usually within about 2 minutes) you could always guarantee that Matt would find a new level of filth; it was a real talent! It's important that we remember the great moments like "The List", Brian Wilson, gnomey and 'lick and spit'! The place just won't be the same without him.

My heart goes out to Emma, his mum and the rest of his family who are absolutely devastated. And if there's one thing I can guarantee it's that he didn't suffer at all and that he was laughing just before he fell. As Mark said earlier he had me and Brunny in stitches all day and he died doing something that he absolutely loved doing.

You'll be missed Weasle/Wallace/Hobbit!!

Matt,

Your tragic and untimely departure from our world has left me with some un-answered questions that will leave me forever pondering:

1. How did you get your trousers to stay up?
2. Did you sneak back into the office last week to get the half eaten swiss role out of Scottie’s bin, you certainly came over to look at it a few times and even gave it a sniff!
3. Who will say ‘beautiful’ now you’re not here?

You have left a huge void in the office that no one will ever be able to fill, as you have in the life of every person whose path you’ve crossed in your tragically short life.

Whenever I was in the office you were the person I would look out for, to come and chat to, to exchange piss takes with and generally moan about the world with. During such times you have even educated me and if it weren’t for one bizarre, abstract conversation years back in the days of St Paul’s Square I would not today know the meaning of ‘cock rock’. I am sure one day this knowledge will have some relevance as it has stuck in my mind vividly ever since.

In the six plus years I have known you, you have not changed, always laughing, always see the good side of things. Your mannerisms made people smile and your actions made people laugh.

It was a genuine honour and a privilege to have known you and even after my prolonged absences from the Birmingham office you were one of the genuine faces I could come back to and chat to as if twelve months had been twelve minutes. Your number was the one I dialled when I needed something because I knew that you would be there, that you would bother to find the time to help me and that it was just damn good to talk to you.

Well mate, I hope you are at peace now and that where ever you are…life is beautiful!

Peace and love,

Julian

Watkins,

What can I say?

You were without a doubt one of the funniest people I have ever met.

There are so many moments that I can remember that make me laugh, like Rummo's famous "can I have a garlic naan please?" or when you shook him up the top of Snowdon and he thought he was going to fall! We were both rolling aroung with laughter!

That's what life with you was all about, laughing. You had this ability to make everyboday laugh. I don't know what life will be like without you, you were the first person I really spoke to at ECH and I can't imagine you not being here. I'm just expecting you to come and grab something off the printer and throw a random insult at Ash, or send a random poisonous email to Rummo!

I know you didn't think it, but I did always listen to your advice - I just wouldn't tell you that! Like the car last week, you got so mad when I had an answer for everything!

I could reel off a list of great moments and memories, like "the list" (don't worry, it will be enforced and Ash will NOT be getting his cobblers out any time soon!!), or the mountain bears and monkeys but it would take for ever. The point is that you were such a key member of our lives and you will never be forgotten.

I take comfort in the fact that you managed to get one last chocolate bar in before you went and we were all laughing and joking as usual. We were having a brilliant time and you went doing something you loved.

I can't begin to imagine what Emma and your familiy are going through, and I just hope that they can work through it somehow.

I am really going to miss you mate, how does life go on when something so tragic happens? Only time will tell.

Thanks for coming Watkins,

Goodbye mate,

Brunny

Such a tragic loss. I shall miss his wit, his intellect, his mischievous smile and laugh that would always lift the weight from laden shoulders, and the “Good morning Mr A”. Above all I will miss the lightness of spirit that was Matt Watkins. More than a colleague, he was a friend.
From “The Godfather of F****” (his name for me, not mine)

Matt,

You were a genuine great guy and I can’t believe that you’ve been take away from us so soon. The void you have left cannot be filled.

You made me laugh and smile when you were happy but also when on the odd occasion you were down…it just did not suit your style to be down about things.

At St.Paul’s Square a favourite past-time of ours was de-facing the car list (mine was Silver Focus Black Velour and yours was the Gnome mobile). We also had fun de-facing staff photos…giggling like school kids as we did it…all immature behaviour but it was cheap fun and you were always great sport when it came to ridiculing each other.

At Victoria Square we sometimes would watch the cars drive around Paradise Circus and then how they appeared to move backwards when the traffic lights turned red…it really tickled you and you’d often say “that’s the craziest s***”. Oh and while talking about cars how can I forget the stick you gave me when I bought a car with one exhaust pipe when it really needed two!

You just made the atmosphere in the office so light…you’d always have time to talk to me no matter how busy you were…things that made working much more enjoyable…it will never be quite the same.

To Emma and Rita the void left in my world is probably minuscule compared to yours and I really hope that Matt’s spirit will help you through these difficult days.

Matt I am so sorry you have gone but feel honoured to have known you for 4 ½ years. I am also thankful that you were having fun when you were taken away…laughing, joking, amongst friends and eating chocolate.

I want you to know that you will never be forgotten and that there will always be a place for you in my heart.

RIP my little mate…and thanks for popping in!

Sean

Matt

I once heard a bloke say "The brightest stars are only ever meant to burn for the briefest of time".

I think it's only now, with your untimely and unfortunate passing, that I really understand what this means.

Thank you for enriching and brightening our lives. I, for one, will miss you terribly. You'll never be forgotten.

Your friend

Ash

Matt,

Aww what can I say?

You supported the best team in the land and you always sat by the window,yet you could hardly see over the cill. The cars rolling backwards was crazy sh***,coming over to the printer with no shoes on spreading the posion over ash,andy and chris.You were always the one who put a smile on my face and put an end to ash and chris's childish banter,but "Hob Nobs" will always rule over "Digestives."

My extra large lunch would always be finished by you,Cake,Twix,Snaps and that swiss role i chucked in the bin!

You just made the office,even the "darkside" a light place to work.You were liked by everyone from the cleaners right down to andy,in so many ways.

I only knew you for what seemed a short period of time, however the memories of you will last forever.

Having the privelage of meeting you has changed my life in so many ways.Not to be so serious about everything and life is so "beatiful"

The founder of "Scotty War!" you will never be forgotten

Peace and Love mate

Scott

This week has been full of sadness and disbelief. Now all I can think about are the funny moments.

Every time I walked past Matt I would sniff as hard as I could and say “Can I smell Rocker?” Matt would reply with something about being an IT geek and getting excited about blades! The point being that he always made the effort. No matter how he was feeling he always had time for insults.

I’d never had a serious conversation with Matt until recently at a leaving do in the pub. He was telling me about how he feels about life in general and its relevance to our being. I wish now that I hadn’t drank so many pints of Guinness so I could remember the conversation but I know it was deep and centered around some of our favourite lyrics and the impact they have on our lives.

Matt and I shared the same taste in music and mainly conversations were about which concerts we had coming up and new cds coming out. My son Toby, met Matt on a visit to the office and they instantly started talking about music and bands they liked. They were talking about the next gig we all had coming up (not together) – Linkin Park. On the night Toby kept looking out for Matt and Emma and was as excited about seeing Matt as he was Linkin Park. Nothing would distract me from Chester Bennington! That was one hell of a gig.

I still believe that meeting Matt was a turning point for Toby. He had struggled to find his identity for a few years and didn’t know how he should dress or what music he should like. I don’t know what Matt said to him but shortly after Toby started wearing black hoodies, jeans below his bum, chains hanging off jeans, boots that weighed him down and he became obsessed with music. I remember Toby telling me he wanted to be like Matt and I said not if I can help it but do you know what, I hope he turns out to be an intelligent, funny, caring and scary guy like what Matt became.

In 2003 I was in Matt’s team along with Emma and Chris Ogden when we did the annual charity walk. Even in the face of pain Matt can throw funny insults around to anyone in his way and have everyone laughing. I dug out the photos of that walk and never noticed before but every single photo had Matt standing in it, no one else stood a chance, except for Emma of course who his arms are wrapped around in most.

Matt was an inspiration to many, even if the squalor of his mind left a lot to be desired!! His inspiration will live on through us all.

Thanks for coming you smelly rocker,

Sam Cook and Toby the new smelly rocker x

I'm totally gutted and still haven't come to terms with what has happened. Matt was such a likeable character and he will be greatly missed. I keep thinking of all his one-liners (Steeeeeeeeve, you're a good QS aren't you?!), they make me smile but at the same time the memories make me sad as i know i'll never hear them again.

I can't imagine how Emma and Matt's family must feel, my heart goes out to them. I hope they find comfort in knowing that Matt was a truly brilliant bloke.

I can honestly say that the days spent with Matt at EC Harris were amongst the funniest and most enjoyable i have experienced. The banter was incredible when everyone was sat on the same floor at St. Paul's Square. I actually used to look forward to going to work !

I too will never forget the charity walk. Matt was struggling with about 10 miles to go but the brave little sod kept going and finished.

Matt you will be greatly missed.

matt matt you were my best friend at work and i don't really know what i'm going to do without you sitting next to me, tolerating my questions.

But in the spirit of the blog, here are a few things matt matt taught me:

1) always respect the Diet Coke hierachy
2) you can pretty much make any name rhyme e.g. bryn bryn never been seen, til he turned up in a bin was a truly genius collaboration and one which he enjoyed singing to bryn at every available opportunity
3) Ducks are friends not food
4) Chocolate digestives are better than hobnobs
5)You hate telford
6)It is far more time efficient to write an insult and make a little sign out of it and hold it up sporadically than to say it
7)A lepton is the same size as a nanoquark (they are the smallest things in the world) and therefore a nanoquark of a lepton of a job is an appropriate way to describe dave hill.

But above all you taught me not to take life or work too seriously and just enjoy it. Thank you for being who you are, I miss you greatly. xxx

P.S. I've let gnomey look out the window to look at the cars and tell Bryn about them, just for a while then we will give him to Emma.

It’s been a week and I still can’t believe it.

Matt wasn’t just someone who shared the same taste in music with me. He shared so much more, not just with me, but also with the whole office.

He shared his wicked sense of humour. His ability to listen to you when you where just babbling some cr*p and he would know exactly where you were coming from. He lightened any day with just a comment or a quizzical look.

Matt you are and always will be sorely missed.

Turn it up all the way to 11 mate.

Steve

Matt and family

This is really difficult

When Andy asked me to join the 3 of you to climb the Horseshoe I was more than happy, not just from the fact that I thought I would enjoy the walk, but also because I enjoyed your and your friends' company. I knew it would be fun and a laugh.

You obviously loved been in the hills - comments as we went through Betws-y-Coed ( What a great place to live) confirmed this.

Your delight on climbing Crib- Goch was great to see and we were all in great spirits as we walked down, the jokes (mostly at Andy's expense) on driving, food etc were coming thick and fast.

We will never really know what happened, but I know you were happy to be where you were. We all tried as hard as possible to rescue you. The mountain rescue team were fantastic, they risk their lives voluntarily with no funding, without them it is possible it would have been 3 of us.

It is hard to come to terms with what happened, hard enough for us who were there, how Emma and your family are coping I can't imagine.

I like Chris don’t think you suffered, people who know these things far better than I who were helping told us.

I only saw you and Emma together once but I could see, as everybody says you were made for each other and more.

People at your work have been brilliant - I know supporting Chris and Andy who are struggling to come to terms with everything.

My warmest and deepest sympathy to Emma and your family

From your new friend

Brett

Matt, Moo, Bunny I am going to miss you so much. We had so many good times together laughing all the time, people watching (and taking the p*** out of them), shouting at the FREAKS!!!!! in Edwards and XL's. There are just so many it would take me years to write all of them down. I will never forget the monthly trips to London to visit you where for some strange reason we ended up singing every sentence we spoke to each other. There were the holidays we had. Gran Canaria where I cleaned up your mess on the coach when we were on the way home from a so called organised p*** up and then carried you up 150 steps back to the apartment (I would still have done the same for you now). Costa Del Sol where we met Manos Sparros the friendly sparrow and you got quite attached to some monkeys. There are just so many good times that we had and I am deeply heart broken that there will be no more. You will always be a big part of my life and I will love you forever, you were the best mate anybody could have, another brother. Gray, G, Bunny xxx

Matt
Even throught the sadnees of the last few weeks, the memories of you still bring a smaile to my face, these are memories that will live on in me for ever.
It was such a privilage to spend so much of my life around you, who can ever forget out trips shopping and to gigs, turning up without a clue where we were going but having such a laugh (Speakeasy's, what a place!)
standing on the edge of the pit sipping our coke in true MGU style!
You were a real inspiration with the way you live your life, not just to thos close to you but to everyone who was lucky enough to come into contact with you, you were never too busy to be there for your freinds, and i am so grateful for that. Im gonna miss you so much mate, but im sure we'll meet up again oneday for one final beatdown!
Goodbye mate and rest in peace, ill never forget you.
Tony xx

So close no matter how far
couldn't be much more from the heart
forever trusting who we are
and nothing else matters

May angels forever watch over you Matt xxx

Matt. This is by far the hardest thing I have had to do. You are without a doubt the funniest person I have ever met. We’ve had so many laughs – at each other and with each other. We met about 12 years ago when I started going out with Mike and the banter never really stopped since. You have a great knack of sarcasm that only you could ever get away with. I remember circuit training every Saturday morning until we were nearly sick – but we still went back every week and still we never seemed to get any better at it!!! Do you remember when Andy fell over? Those tricep press-ups and me trying to hide at the back of class and pretend to do them ‘cause they were too damn hard! How many times did we re-consider going in when we knew it was going to be Alison’s class!! oooohhh I remember you and Graham being late for my wedding – arriving after me and running past me at the church trying to hide your face and shouting I can’t see you. Do you remember the cat poo story when we lived at The Riddings? How bad did I feel when I realised I had been sending crude text messages to you only to find out weeks later when I called you that I had got someone else’s mobile number…that poor girl. You were the first person to send your congratulations when Zack was born – a text I’ll never delete. Your games nights with Baldy and Mike. Do you remember that night me and Em went out and got hammered? You and Baldy ordered Chinese while Mike came to pick us up and how we fell through the door when we got back. How Em tried to offer you the scraps from her plate …”there’s some good stuff in there”… How we took the mickey out her for that! I couldn’t have been happier when you announced your engagement and I was so honoured that Em asked me to be her bridesmaid and that you wanted Zack to be a paige-boy. I remember our last night together – you Em Baldy and us and we played Cranium….you had to hum a Robbie Williams tune and me and Em just didn’t get it. You sent me endless texts the next day trying to hum other songs. How much you hated that song by the Rasamus and how much I loved it. Do you remember when I dedicated it to you at the Rock Café? Things I’ll never forget… 1) Weeties – our word for sweeties. We couldn’t watch a film without any and we used to go mad at the cinema for our pick ‘n’ mix. 2) Growler – just another one of our words 3) Tickle tickle – from The Witches of Eastwick. Had to be done with actions of course! 4) Miss chickpea – from the film Nell which you never saw but used to crack me up doing an impression! 5) Mo-fo 6) Big nawks – one of our words 7) Nights down the Bitter End 8) Reflex for birthday’s 9) That woman from friends – when we couldn’t remember where we had seen a woman in a film before and I text you the next day to say exactly what series and episode of Friends. You really took the mickey out of me! 10) Traditional Christmas Chinese round ours 11) Welcome to Collingwood – you lent it to me and Mike and we thought it was rubbish. Everytime you recommended something else we’d ask whether it was as good as Welcome to Collingwood!! And by the way…have you seen Starsky and Hutch? We went to see it at the cinema with you but you kept forgetting and kept asking us if we’d seen it! I guess you won with the tattoo’s as I’ll have to let Mike have another now won’t I?!! You’ll always be with us – you’ll live on in the million and one stories we tell of you and the fabulous times we all had together. I feel so lucky to have been a part of your life. Thanks for letting me be such a close friend. Love you loads Tracey xx

Matt,

I know that I did not know you for very long at all – maybe just under two years, but I feel to have known you for ages. You were so friendly, easy going, accepting and made me feel like an old friend.

I knew on the first occasion we met - that you and Emma were both lovely genuine people – always seeming to be smiling, welcoming and happy about life.

I will never forget the pub quiz’s and the team name that was......and probably will remain “The BVF’s” – I wont tell everyone here what that means – I am far too embarrassed like you were the last time - when I had forgotten what it meant and Emma had to remind me as you went all shy )

Nor will I forget you taking the mick out of me for forgetting about the eclipse I had seen on the news earlier in the week either – not the hurricane which I had thought – whoops - and the mick taking of the creases in Tony’s new crinkly coat - mind you, you probably knew he was never fond of ironing! )

There was so much mick taking when everyone got together – I wonder if you made a wish as Emma advised us to do..... (When both you and I were picking on Tony and came out with the same one-liner – Jinx!)

I will never forget you and I am really glad that you came into my life and lit it up - like I am sure you did for many others. Thank-you so much.

I know that you will be watching over us now – still laughing, still smiling, still taking the mick and still dreaming about that curry on the bar menu!

I will miss you - and my heart is truly with Emma, your mum and everyone who loves you.

Take care until the next time we meet.....wherever and whenever it may be.

Love Claire x x

Matty moo moomin pie..

I still cant believe your not here anymore.
I'll miss you so much. I am just happy to have known you and have so many funny, happy memories of you.

Moo, you made me laugh to the point of pain!! Whether it be your caterpillar dance, destruction of my mom an dads garden furniture, constant taking the p*ss (and yet getting away with it every single time!) tormenting of baldy at the memorabilia fairs-'spesh when we lose him (oh, he is prone to wander!) you shouting "baldy!!" and getting about thirty no-haired gents look your way!

So many great memories, so many laughs. I think that is what you have left with all of us moo.You definately made a lasting impression.

Love you moo, i'll see you up there someday.

Love from, Julie moo xxxx

Here we are, Ron and myself, still not believing reality.

Matt was the perfect partner in every way for my neice Emma - (having not been blessed with children, she is like a daughter I never had), and losing Matt is like losing a son.

I will always remember the first time we met on the day after boxing day at Park House in Sutton Park - sounds posh, but it is a 'pub' - and he walked down the drive with his jeans, characteristically, at half mast.

We were very impressed that he only had a diet coke to drink! (or was it a diet pepsi?); whatever, we were impressed!!!! There are not that many that can abstain from alcohol after meeting the family!!

In fact, the only time I saw him drink alcohol was when we suprised Emma & Matt with champagne on their engagement (though I believe Emma had the largest share!)

One of the pictures above shows Matt in an armchair at Maggie's in Solihull - how Ron and I had a laugh with Matt that day; when asked by others when he might, or not, 'pop' the question to Emma, Ron & I assured him that so long as he did it before their 13th anniversary of being together it would be fine (yes folks, that's how long it took Ron & I to tie the knot!)

Upon meeting Rita, she immediately became part of the family - and will always be so, always a smile on her face and a good laugh - so this must be where Matt's good humour was nurtured to blossom into the wonderful person we all love ......... and miss so dearly.

For those of you walking Snowdon on 3 June, as keen walkers ourselves, we will be thinking of you - wish we could be there, but will be out of the country.

May Matt's memory be a guiding light and inspiration to us all.

Lynne & Ron Powell

To my Kung Fu brother,
Peace and Respect!
Love you man.

Baldy
xxx

Matmoo

still in a kinda state of shock.....still cant believe i wont see you again.

You were one of the first people that made me feel wlecome in the Bitter end all them years ago. When i started seeing baldy you and him were good friends even then and you welcomed me into your life like we had always been friends, thank you so much for that.

We used to come to your moms house and raid the chocolate drawer and you never used to mind, and what sort of a person would not be mad at me when i dropped something heavy (think it was a brick) on your tortoise. it was the tortoise squeeling that alerted you to its fate....thankfully it survived the event. i did confess years later that it was a brick i dropped on it, you laughed your ass off..

I always remember that one christmas in the Bishop Vesey when i first saw you drunk. you were drinking the fatefull rum and orange and your face went so red with alcohol and laughing i though you were gonna explode..... .

Thanks for always taking the piss out of me, strange i know, but with a click of my clothing and calling me 'bloodclot' it always made me smile, even if you had dragged me around Tempest for the best part of 2 hours.

Matt it aint gonna be the same without you, and i can assure you that i will be at eddies on your birthday dancing the 'baldy' dance to pantera's walk and getting drunk making a fool of myself...all for you!!!

See you sometime, and hopefully heaven is playing METAL!!!

love ya louise xxx

Happy birthday Matt, hope you have a good party up there! We shall be all thinking about you and will have a few drinks in your honour! Love from all your friends

xxxxxx

So many happy memories when I think of you Matt Moo! I hope you realise that so many of us felt that when ever you turned up to nights out or parties etc we all just knew we were in for a good night. You had this way with people, I can’t describe it but everyone who has been lucky enough to know you will know exactly what I mean!!!!!!!!

Just a few memories of mine, but I could go on and on:

· Freaks!!!!
· Sick in the Head Man!!!!!
· London – in Covent Garden, having a drink in Belushe’s Bar and the Women’s Wimbledon final was on (it was between the Williams sisters), the TV in the bar had no sound, so you kindly provided the grunts and screams for us!
· The General banter of abuse between friends!
· Your low-rise trousers and lucky pants, Animal!
· Me giving you grief about your tattoos and music choice, you calling me a girlie ‘EMO’ fan!
· Your emails of abuse and ‘metal’ vibes advice
· Your last text to me that gave the lame excuse that you and Em’s couldn’t come to Eddies, as the taxi fare was too expensive from Scotland.
· Nottingham, letting us kip over after ‘rock city’ and how we always had to bring the milk and bread, oh and your mom’s Tupperware of stews!
· The endless hours of my life you dragged me round music shops, in London and Nottingham, looking for that one infamous CD you just might not have got yet – impossible!
· Our phone call at Christmas when you told me about you asking Emma to marry you
· Donnington and watching you eat cold canned food, bog roll bandanas, baked bean bullets, KISS, yeah baby!
· Golden Showers – Bishop Vesey, ohhh the glowing cheeks, I love you too Matt Moo, you drunken little bum!
· Diet Coke please!
· London, the free gig to see Limp bizkit, you standing on our chair! Thought it was going to be a repeat performance of the garden furniture-breaking incident at ‘me Julie’s’.
· The bitter end - Baldy dancing! (sorry baldy) and original fancy dress costumes, humm Steven Segal???
· Eurovision song contest parties at your mom’s – Rita sorry we used to eat all your cakes, but they were the best!!!! Come on Croatia!!!!!

Matt moo, moo la moooo – I shall miss you and it isn’t the same here without you, but you won’t be forgotten, thank you for being my friend, thank you for touching my life!

See ya again one day I hope and by then heaven will be ‘rockin’ knowing you!

Rest in Peace

Lj xxxx

HAPPT 30th BIRTHDAY!
I know thirty was a swear word in our house but I've said it anyway!
Love you forever and more than you will ever know. Miss you always!
Em
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Matt you Metal Freak,

I remember meeting you for the 1st time after our band Mainline had just finished a set at some ropey dive in Erdington, and you came and bought a demo off there and then. Friends for life from that moment.
Your inability to cuss me (and my mum down) never ceased to amaze me and when you and gra got together, I never stood a chance.... but I loved every moment. In fact, at your 30th bash, I threw a few gra's way for you. (The punk assed FREAK)

Cheers for all the nice advice, sleepovers, pile on's, slaps, tattoo talk, concerts, festivals, lifts, Eurovision, Stars in their Eyes Final, Filth, The Almighty, Music talk,banter and so much more.

Gotta share one with everyone, Never laughed so hard from when you sat on Julie's garden furniture and broke all the chairs (there may have been several of us sitting in the same chair but still) followed by you and gra kung fu'ing my ass to the ground.

And who can I look to when we take the mick out of the other gra and his eyebrows.

As everyone can tell, Matt was such a part of our lives that we will all take something from him and let his legacy live on.

Im already clicking everyones clothes at work and calling our clients freaks.

Cheers Matt for the endless laughter and time that I will never forget.

It's still hard to read these blogs and write this but I take comfort knowing that we will meet up and diss our music tastes (Kelly Clarkson rocks!!!)

See you around Punk, Heaven has gained a fantastic guy!

Rick / Hippy

May I use this site to wish all the many folk going over to Snowdon tomorrow and climbing the Mountain in Matt`s memory a safe and memorable day, I am sure you will raise lots of money in Matt`s memory. I know Matt will be watching from above and feel very proud that he has such good friends. I did not know Matt, but hearing Claire talking about him, I know just how much he was thought about and loved.
So sorry you were taken so young Matt, but, With what I have read and heard about you, you will certainly be making and impression in the after life.
God Bless you Matt
Claire`s Mum.

I have been meaning to leave a message for a while now, but just couldn't bring myself to do it. One of the hardest things I have had to do is coming to terms with the fact that Matt has gone.

He was without a doubt one of the most;caring, funny, genuine, supportive people I have ever had the privilge of knowing.

I loved Matts ability of taking the pee and still making you laugh. We discussed tattoos on many occasion, of course, I always chickened out. He was alot braver than I was. I never forgot his suggestion for me to get the bayeaux tapestry tattooed on my backside!(Only you could have got away with that one Matty!)

Since 16, he was my mentor of "Rock!" always advising me of the best places to go (Edwards and The Bitter End) and not to go (Snobs). And the music I should listen to, which we never agreed on, I never forgot "the great Radiohead debate of 96".

Matt always managed to come out with original comments, such as "ZZ top are the best band in the world" and about town being "the best place to work".

Matt, I miss you. You are one of my best friends, I will never for get you.

Love always,
Anna x x x

Matt,

This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to write. You were/are my soul mate, my best friend, my angel. We had so many fantastic times ahead of us and I cannot believe they are not going to be a reality. I feel like my future has died with you. You have taken a piece of me with you and I feel like I will never be the same, I definitely know life wont be the same without you here to brighten it up. I miss your smile, your laugh, your lovely voice. I am so happy we had so many great times together and I feel so lucky that you chose to spend your life with me. Even though our time together was too short I would not change the last four years for anything. There are just no words to describe the shock or devastation I feel.

Here are a few memories that will last forever. Just a few as I don’t have room to write them all down and I fear I would probably be here for ever if I did. They are in no particular order so here goes:

1) Do you remember when you took me on an all expenses paid trip to London? One evening we decided to go and see The Royal Tenenbaums. It was the worst film we’d ever seen! The whole cinema was rolling around the aisles with laughter and we just didn’t get it. You took your shoes off to stop yourself falling asleep and I fell asleep anyway!
2) On that same holiday we decided to kill some time before catching the train home by going to the Tate Modern. What a humungous waste of time that was! We both came to the conclusion that the guy who stuck a glass of water on a shelf and called it a tree probably had something other than water coming out of his taps when he turned them on! Do you remember how much we laughed when, following our visit, we heard about the ‘artist’ who demonstrated their talents with a bag of rubbish only for it to be cleared away by the cleaners?!
3) The way you said hello babby in your cute voice. I know no-one can hear the way you said it but it went something like this-“Hello babby!”
4) Camping in the rain in Scotland.
5) Climbing mountains in the mist.
6) Damn Midges!!!!!
7) Your love of your car Renee-who by her third incarnation had become a bit of a wee beastie!
8) 31st August 2001-The day I realised I was falling in love with you. We were chatting at Anna’s house warming party and you had to go because you had to be up for Mike and Tracey’s wedding. I didn’t want you to leave!
9) Your tattoos and how every one was going to be your last. I really liked them and they made you happy. That was the most important thing to me-your happiness and how I would do anything for that!
10) Whenever the gang would get together and you, Baldy and Mike would sit down as soon as we were through the front door and talk about your next tattoo!
11) How happy we were when we saw the castle we were going to get married in. I couldn’t wait to see you in your kilt-you would have looked fantastic! Just to let you know my dress was not bright pink…it was gold, and no, it didn’t have big puffy shoulders. What it did have was a bit of sparkle…and yes the train and veil were both very long!
12) And speaking of sparkle-do you remember what I was like whenever we went to by a decoration for our Christmas tree. I would always go for the glitteriest one in the store! You would be following behind me saying “Stay away from the sparklies!” You said I was like a Magpie.
13) When we first went to view our flat when it had been built. Before we left you told me to keep my cool. That lasted for about three seconds because as soon as we walked in we were both like a couple of excited school children!
14) The day we moved into our flat and your car broke down. We had to do all the moving in my car.
15) When we had moved all our stuff up two flights of stairs and in 25 degrees of heat only to realise that the heating was on!
16) When you asked me to marry you on Christmas morning. How you hid the ring box in the waist band of your boxers!
17) Before we started going out together, how we always ended up at the end of the night talking to each other-locked in a world where there was just the two of us. Apparently everyone could tell how we felt about each other before we did!
18) When you accidentally ate duck when we were out for a Chinese with the folks.
19) How pale you always went when the subject of children came up! I only did it to see you squirm-it was really funny!

The truth is that I could go on and on and on. I think people already know that you really were as much fun to live with as you were as a friend…No! You were more fun! (Sorry guys!) I want you to know that your friends have been fantastic! You really would be proud of them and how they are looking after me and have been there literally at the drop of a hat. I am so grateful for that because at the moment I really don’t know how life goes on-moment by moment I guess.
Well what a ramble-You always did love my chatterbox ways!

Know that I’ll love you forever and miss you always!
Em
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

You will be proud of me dude, I bought Underoath's new album and it's excellent!

Missing you

Graham
xxx

Hello all,

The total raised from the funeral is...

£3665.95!!!!!!!!!!! This is fantastic! A BIG thankyou to you all!

We don't yet know how much has been raised from our Snowdon walk and the great midlands run last month but let's just say that it's a LOT!!! Thanks for all your sponsorship. I know Matt would be extremely proud of us all!

For anyone who doesn't know there is a gig tomorrow-Sat 15th July at Sutton Town Football club on Coles Lane. Tickets are £3 on the door and all proceeds are going to mountain rescue. Bar open from 8 til 1.

Hope to see you there,

Em

Babe,

I hope you enjoy the gig tonight as much as we will! I'll let you know how much we raise.

Love ya!

Em xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

PS. And's going to play that song he wrote for you. Can't wait for you to hear it! x

Matt,

We raised £301 last nite. Isn't that fantastic?! The lads did really well. Was the proud big sister.

Love you,

Em
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Just thought I would let you know that I got accepted into the London Marathon 2007 and will be raising as much money as I can for Emma & Rita to put towards Matt's charity.
I recall the email I got from Matt calling me his usual names for pulling out of this years marathon so I have no excuse for next year.

Missing you mate

Rick x

I met Matt about 5/6yrs ago at some bloody Punk/Hardcore festival at the Docklands Arena, he was the only one wearing a faintly METAL shirt ('JANE' to be precise), and we spent most of the day mocking the bands (apart from Sick of It All), and proclaiming our love for all things belgium hardcore! What a guy! even then I knew that he was gonna be an awesome mate. Once again he proved his worth by taking me to my first Converge gig in Leicester, I'll never stop loving him for that! Many times I accompanied him and Tony to a variety of London shows where we laughed at Matt on his typical stance wearing a BACKPACK with nothing in it, drink in hand mocking the pit for being a bunch of pussies! and every now and again doing the cardinal sin of taking the CD he had bought at the gig and turned the CD around so that the lettering was UPSIDE DOWN!!!!!!!!!!
He could not stand it! What an absolute legend!

Matt was a true METAL warrior and was seen on many occasions supporting the local gigs of old...................... Hollow, Akbar and SPINE and even managed a few of the more recent namely deadsunrising.

At Matt's wake, Adam (Spine), Emma and I talked about the old days of gigs and mentioned that we could reform our old bands for a one off charity show!

Its taken a while to fully organize but just to let everyone know that ANOTHER gig has been organized in tribute of Matt and to raise even more cash for the Charity.

Everylast penny of this gig will go to charity!!!!
Wednesday 16th August
Medicine Bar, Custard Factory, Digbeth
SPINE, Deadsunrising and NOG (ex-hollow) will be rocking the socks off the people in attendance and raising some money.
Prepare for a particularly storming set from NOG as they will be performing THRASHAOKE (Covers of Metallica, Sepultura, Megadeath etc where we get the audience to grab the mike and participate!)

It would be so good if his family, friends and work colleagues came down to enjoy the night we chose to honour such an amazing guy in the ONLY way we could...............PLAYING METAL and having a good time!

If you need any further info please contact me at copenaction@hotmail.com!


I miss seeing your face at gigs or at Scruffies mate!

In this site you can request free webspace from free web hosting providers, take advantage of our community by exchange ideas and tips, sharing knowledge and techniques regarding the web hosting industry, computer & internet, web design, Web development and more.
http://www.searchwebsitehosting.com
http://www.smartaliens.com

Hello Matt moo.

It has taken me all this time to put something on this site. I still forget that you are not around. I wish we had stayed in touch more over the last few years but people move on and there lives change.The one thing i am glad for is the time we all spent together and the friendship we shared.I dont think i ever stopped laughing, mostly at my own expence and you taking the micky!

You really were the one of the nicest guys i have ever met and will cherish your friendship!

Miss you mate

xxxxx

I am sorry to hear of the death of Matt

My deepest sympathy goes to his family and all who knew him

As only an occasssional gig goer I don't have memories of Matt to share with you...

I only heard of this today .. when seducedwomandead sent me an invite to the benefit evening at the med bar tonight

Hi Baby,
I graduate tomorrow! Please be there. I miss you every day!!!

Love love love love Emmalaboo!!!

Still missing you like crazy. Heard 'Gold' by Spandeau Ballet the other day and remembered dancing in the circle at Zanzibar. It's strange that the same memories I laugh at one day are the same ones that make the cry the next as I know there will be no more. Mike talks about you every day but can't find the words to write on here but I know you understand. Miss you mate. Always.
T xx

Mate,

Just checking in to say howdy!

Hope all is good for you!

Brunny

Alright mate.

Just a quick one to tell you that Emma broke the toilet in a branch of "Yo! Sushi" in Bur Dubai last week. She had to dash in there on the way home after a really heavy ruby at a place called "Ravi's" on Friday with me, Donna and John.

Impressive, eh?

Laters.

Ash