Just had the sad but inevitable news that my brother’s dog – Dileas – has had to be put to sleep after a slow decline over the last few months. He was a lovely dog and with a very special nature – he was a companion with me on a few runs – sometimes just him and me in the days before we got Elvis – and particularly gentle with children.

So many memories of this statesmanlike friend — my favourite memories currently springing to mind

• a running trip up Ingleborough in early 2001 in the snow when he ran right by my side all way without a lead – seeming to be so glad for a great adventure.
• meeting Anne for the first time when she and Phil were just getting together in Sticklepath – and thinking how ace it was that my brother’s girlfriend had a labrador puppy. I remember stroking Dileas all night in the Oxenham Arms in South Zeal as he sat under the pub table.

I’m sure that Phil, Anne, Matthew, Angus and Helen will feel a massive hole in their lives for some time to come.