Extremely sad news reached me this day from Amit Halder who posted: "I have informed that Jeff Thompson passed away recently. He was a SS at Hatton Cross for many years. I worked with Jeff on and off for many years. He will be missed by all." Sad news beyond belief for me. I had the pleasure of working with JT from my 3rd week on LT as a ROA when Jeff was a ROA at Northfields and was in the cabin at Northfields. We got on straight away and told me the stories of the staff in the cabin and taught me how to be a good administrator by showing me how to write out the cabin sheets for the week, thank you matey. I used to watch him run up and down the frame and pull this and that lever and change the destinations for those trains heading east on those huge tumblers. I was amazed at his knowledge. I could never be as good as Jeff. When Jeff was not around as we were shift mates, I was told you could always rely upon him and find him in Ted's Cafe just around the corner from the station. He was never missed...only by me because I wanted to be as good as Jeff. I remember when we were ROA's together there were a good bunch of apprentices at Northfields, Jeff, Tony Birrell, Clive Rodericks, Dennis Bailey, and in the cabin was Malcolm Griggs, Phil Goodey, Tom Harrington, Glyn Roberts, Ted Mandy and quite a few Rlf signalman to keep us under control, yeah right. Jeff qualified as a Stn Foreman and threw himself into the deep end at Park Royal, where if you were bitten by a mosquito was a INF moment. Jeff liked or should that be, loved a quiet life, no hassle, to each his own. Many years later Jeff decided on a move to Hatton Cross, closer to home or closer to the action? I will let you decide. I next met Jeff at the start of SQE for the Picc and Jeff was more than happy to be partnered with me on the few occassions we were together which relaxed him a lot as Jeff was pretty shy and retiring but when he was let loose, he had a great sense of humour, especially around those that knew him. Jeff was a great cartoonist and how I wish I had some of his work. Working with Jeff was a pleasure, a pure pleasure, and to go home with gum or jaw ache or a stitch was nothing unusual. I will miss you matey and can only say thank you for all those memories we shared together. To your lovely lady. Sharon, I can only offer you my condolences and those associated with LTRIM our condolences on JT's passing. I will miss him. RIP matey. Thank you for being my friend.