As part of our management development course, Neil and I worked closely together. He was a lot of fun to sit next to and work with, although we seemed to be sat at the front at most sessions - like the naughty ones in class! He had a logical and pragmatic way of looking at things and I enjoyed his ability to question without aggravation, a skill indeed! We often shared stories and laughs about the working days and he was a good listener with practical advice to offer, which I sought on a number of occasions! A number of us continued to socialise as a group after the course completed and Neil was one of them and will be sorely missed. Lauren

On all of our many nights, footy matches and weekends away over the year's - my abiding memory of Neil is just his sense of cool, collective, calmness... While the rest of us lost our heads and got into various messes - Neil somehow always managed to bring a sense of - "calm down boy(s)". Add in his droll sense of humour and dry wit and you've got a very cool customer. Countless girlfriends I've brought back to Cov over the years used to always remark "your friend Neil is really nice" - so add winning charisma and being a lovely fella to the list! I'm very proud to count Neil amongst the best of people and most importantly friends.

Neil you were a pleasure to know, always had good humored chat. You will be so missed. Kelly

"Wait until I'm dead & you will see what all the fuss was about" Tyla I can't quite believe that 1 of us has gone already. I know you've been saying how old we all are since about 1998 but still!!! I guess this isn't just about Neil (although I wouldn't have written it otherwise!). This is about a bunch of friends who grew up together, tackled the trials & tribulations of school, visited each other at uni, had no real clue (or interest) what each other did to earn money, witnessed relationships, break ups, weddings & births (not literally!). We also had several excuses for some pretty epic stag do! Bonded by a love(?) of an average football team, a passion for music that nobody else knew & a taste for the finer things in life such as ale, JD & smelly old pubs. Others come & go in life but the mates you make in school will always be. Save a place at the great bar in the sky for us... Charlie PS if your boys ever want their Saturday afternoons ruining they're always welcome to come to the football with me

I feel very lucky to have known Neil with his warm caring personality and wicked dry sense of humour. Spent many hours with him in lectures for our professional exams (sat behind the future Mrs. Latham!), as roommates at Weston's and various stag do's and even as an honorary Cov City fan on a trip to Anfield! I enjoyed every minute I spent in Neil's company and will miss him. Thinking of you Liz, Ben and James. Keep the wonderful memories you have of Neil alive forever and I will do the same. Sending my love, Paul x

Neil was a great friend who I was lucky enough to know over many years. It still feels shocking that he has gone. We were friends since childhood and there are so many great memories. Days following the Sky Blues (the result often disappointed, but meeting up for a beer was always the most important thing!), plenty of gigs, a fair few festivals and some memorable holidays. Neil always made time for his friends and made sure that we all stayed in touch. A top bloke who will be sadly missed. Cheers Neil. Lots of love to Liz, Ben and James Gareth and Tanya

I was lucky enough to first meet Neil in 1995 when we both joined Deloitte in Birmingham. Starting work at a fairly big company there were a few social gatherings organised so that new starters got acquainted. Inevitably a few of us bonded over our love of beer, however I got on exceptionally well with Neil as our musical tastes were “unorthodox”. In fact he introduced me to bands even I wasn’t aware of, and I remember a fair few work lunch hours spent in backstreet record shops in Birmingham looking for some obscure vinyl. Above all Neil was a great bloke, always fantastic company and I’ve been very lucky to be able to call him a friend. Much love to Liz, Ben and James Rich Williams x

TO OUR SON Dear Neil, So hard to find the words to truly express the sorrow we feel. Although the final outcome was expected it still came as a terrible shock and somehow it seems so unreal that you have left us at such a young age. You have been so strong and brave over these last 12 months. We have so many wonderful memories of your life, through your childhood, schooldays, uni years, professional studies and into family life. With your calm temperament and likeable personality, you tackled everything you did with tremendous determination. For what you achieved in your life you have made us such very proud parents. You can be very proud of your legacy, a fantastic family, your wife Liz who has been amazing looking after you throughout this difficult time and those two wonderful sons, our grandsons, Ben and James. Neil, we know that from what people are writing about you just confirms what Liz, Ben and James know already that you were a fantastic husband, father, son, brother and friend. We will love and miss you, always. Mum and Dad xx

Boys, I have been lucky enough to know your amazing mum since we were 16! When she met your Dad Neil she knew, and so did I, that he was a keeper! Humorous, determined and self-effacing - your Dad was a totally awesome man. You have so much love, guidance and grounding from your Dad - this has moulded you into the fine young men that you are today. You are loved and you are held. Neil, forever in our thoughts, rest in peace x

With a warm smile and a twinkle in his eye, Neil could always make anyone feel lighter and brighter. Both gentle and determined, fun yet serious about things that mattered to him. He was quite simply one of life’s good guys. His boys are just what the world needs right now; ceaselessly kind, sensitive, funny. I will always see Neil in them. He chose quite the most remarkable woman to be his wife and her love and courage made his last months more bearable. He was the most special of men. Don’t rest in peace Neil, get the music on loud, rev the engines on your dream cars and shout at the top of your voice for Cov. You have a special place in my heart.

With a warm smile and a twinkle in his eye, Neil could always make anyone feel lighter and brighter. Both gentle and determined, fun yet serious about things that mattered to him. He was quite simply one of life’s good guys. His boys are just what the world needs right now; ceaselessly kind, sensitive, funny. I will always see Neil in them. He chose quite the most remarkable woman to be his wife and her love and courage made his last months more bearable. He was the most special of men. Don’t rest in peace Neil, get the music on loud, rev the engines on your dream cars and shout at the top of your voice for Cov. You have a special place in my heart.

Neil. Wow. It’s still sinking in mate. Way too soon. Looking back we had some fun times. Sadly I can’t remember them all because of the beers we drank. But those I can recall reassure me that I always had a smile on my face in your company. Heck, we even managed to enjoy watching some Sky Blues matches in the post-Prem and pre-Robins II years. You helped make talking nonsense make complete sense on nights out, stag dos and weddings. I watched you become a proud husband and an equally proud father. But you still found the time to be a great friend and when I was struggling you reminded me you were always there for me. All I had to do was talk. I’ll never forget that. Your memory lives on and I will always be there for your family in the future (but only if they continue to ‘boo’ the Villa). I raise my glass to you my friend…

NOTE TO MY HUSBAND Dear Neil, It has been just over a week since you died and I still expect you to come walking through the door. Whilst we knew your diagnosis was poor it is still difficult to believe you have gone from us so soon. I told you many times but you really are the bravest person I know and I am honoured to have been by your side during the the last 12 months through your illness....and what a 12 months it has been: a house renovation; James' appendicitis; all of us hit with Covid; an 11+ exam to prepare for and of course the numerous hospital visits! Throughout it all though you remained your reliable, pragmatic self with your sense of humour intact until the end. Now that you are gone, and the 3 of us look to establish a different sort of 'normal', I will take this opportunity to make you these promises: - I promise that Coventry City will remain our team of choice and we will 'boo' at any mention of the Villa; - I promise that I will replicate your signature cheese on toast without taking too many shortcuts and will make sandwiches that are not just bread-ham-bread; - I promise to help Ben refine his gravy making skills so that we can have 'a slice each' because it has reached optimum consistency; - I promise than if any new Star Wars film is released we will watch marathon back-to-back Star Wars films the week before/after; - I promise to take the boys to places that we didn't get the chance to visit; - I promise to encourage the boys to fulfil their potential and to remind them of their promises to you; - I promise to raise the boys so that they know who you were and we talk about you all the time; - Most of all I promise that I will be brave and that we will try to live our lives so that we make you proud. ...oh, and I promise to tell James to get his hands out of his pockets! I love you Neil and I always will. Liz x

Hi Ben and James, Your dad is great – as you well know. When I joined the firm, he was my 'buddy'; a term which couldn't have been more appropriate. He was always great to work with, and even better to go to the pub with (even if he did bang on about pints of mild – this is an email he sent putting in an order ahead of meeting us after work... "See you in an old man's ale pub (I'll persuade everyone…). Pint of Mild thanks :)"). He spoke of you both a lot (clearly very proud) – he'd talk about the holiday cruises you were going on, even shared photos of the books you brought home from school. But my particular favourite was the story of you at one of the Coventry City games and his attempted lesson to warn you away from gambling; a lesson that backfired spectacularly on him - always good to keep him on his toes! I hope that can add a little to the memories you already have of him. He'll be sorely missed. Nathan

I hold my big brother and his influence largely responsible for much of what masquerades as my sense of humour. He managed to bring together a positive blend of being determined, resolved and stubborn, but at the same time realistic, fun and easy-going. After having the best of times growing up together, we both decided to always remain big kids at heart. I already miss the absolute rubbish we used to chat to each other, be it putting the world to rights, dissecting Cov City’s latest successes or failures, and mainly our daft, shared nostalgia for everything 80s and 90s (the best decades by far, we decided). He bore his illness very bravely, without complaint and with his characteristic pragmatism. Amongst much else besides, he leaves a fine example and a host of brilliant memories for his family, friends and colleagues. He would doubtless be appalled and embarrassed that I just wrote the above about him on a public forum. Play Up Sky Blues, and Up Above the Streets and Houses 🙂

Neil was one of those people whose glass was always half full. Whenever I saw him he was always upbeat and smiling, no matter what the stresses and strains of the day were. I will very much miss his company.

Neil was my son-in-law and so very much part of our family - it was a delight to join with him at family celebrations and to see his enjoyment when teasing his sons. The example he set and his encouragement he gave them both in their education and hobbies has set them on a firm foundation. He will be very missed but will most certainly be remembered with love. Gillian Penny (grandma)

I have fond memories of Neil at Gowlings Finance Quiz night in 2019. The Monopoly themed night when our Quizmaster, Joe Morris, announced "You won a Beauty Contest Collect £10" and then asked all the girls to dress up the male member of their team as they were about to enter .... A Beauty Contest. Neil was on his feet ready and waiting. I watched for a moment and then hastily went towards him saying, come here, I proceeded to shove loo roll down his shirt pull a lavender coloured scarf tight around his waist and then held up my Ipad camera and said ok now pout ... Neil's response .... "Do what??" I said pout, imagine you are on a catwalk. The photos tell it all. I think he secretly liked it, as he strutted very proudly to join the other contestants! Our Neil, a true gentleman, ever the comedian and an inspiration to many. Liz, James and Ben, thank you for sharing him with us, I am so sorry for your loss. Neil, love and miss you always. Dawn xx

I first met Neil in 1992 when we were both at university in Southampton. His friend from home, Anthony, was on my degree course. We all bonded over our support of slightly above average Midlands’ football teams (back then their Coventry were in the Premiership with my Aston Villa!) I remember visiting Anthony and Neil in the Spring of 1993 – it was a gorgeous sunny day, and Coventry looked really green and beautiful. Having been back since, I can see it was not a normal day! Neil and I then trained at Deloittes (at that point called Touche Ross) in Birmingham at the same time – and there are lots of tales of ‘free drinks’ at OCs in town, and the boys’ trips to Weston (which could not be discussed in front of us female employees!) Over the years our starting band of 30+ trainee accountants (mostly) drifted away from Deloittes – but as a year group lots of us kept in touch, and Neil was a stalwart of the annual Christmas gatherings. We’d all catch up with ridiculous Secret Santa presents, stupid ‘in jokes’ from the last few decades and drink too much beer. This December will be the 30th anniversary of this ritual – and we will all raise a very large glass to Neil. With love to all of Neil's family and friends, from Libby. xx

Thank you for setting up this memorial to Neil. We hope that you find it a positive experience developing the site and that it becomes a place of comfort and inspiration for you to visit whenever you want or need to.

I am I and you are you, whatever we were to each other that we still are. Speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? Life means all that it ever meant, it is the same as it ever was.