Max Lowry, my best friend. Max had asked me to speak at his wedding on what my friendship to Max meant. This is (much like Sam Eastall's) an edited version of that speech.
When Max asked me to speak of our friendship, I could only think of one thing, my son Isaac. When Isaac was born, Max was a struggling artist. The friend you would always want at any social event because of what he was as a person. That infectious joy for life, that smile and sparkle in the eye that seemed to light even the darkest days. It was because of those qualities that I asked Max to be Isaac’s godfather, in the hope that he could guide and influence Isaac in being a socially confident, laugh a minute, loyal and happy boy. The evidence that he has helped Ria and I achieve this lives on in Isaac. What more could one friend ask of the other?
I knew Max and I had more-than-most in common the day I first met him. The fact I can remember this moment, again, is testament to the friendship that blossomed from that first day in the Royal Holloway Drama Department. Like all great Drama degree courses, the first thing our year had to do, was draw pictures of our favourite actors and actress’ and write a brief description as to why we were so influenced by them. As the group started to feed back, and the others on our course went on sycophantic monologues on the theatrical greats, from Larry Olivier, Sir Ben, Sir John, to Emma Thompson, Kenneth Brannagh and all those in between. Max told us all how much Sly Stallone had inspired him through the Rocky franchise, and I harped on about Harrison Ford, Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Soul mates, you better believe it buddy.
I believe you measure great friendships by the unspoken respect you always hold for one another, without taking umbrage at the barrage of abuse you might dish out to one another. It’s almost part of the test. A test to see how jokey you can be, yet still have the rock there when you need it! Musically Max and I would forever debate the merits of Bruce “The Boss” Springsteen, versus the Bono and U2! Yet we both knew we were there for each other when needed most.
Max brought many people in to my life and they have made it better! More friends! More family! His mother Suzanne, whom without, we would have been struggling flat hunter’s, let alone Actor and musician, when we left University for London. Maddy and Freddy Carter and her family, Pat Fitzsimons, Gemma Tottingham, Cat Bevan, Sam Eastall, Ollies Bishop and Barnes, and many more besides. All people I feel thankful to know, and all people I know thanks to Max.
No comments:
Post a Comment