04 Dec Eleanor Coombes Tribute

Eleanor Coombes Tribute

One of my favourite things about Matthew is his fun and laughter that he brings to everyone who meets him. He also seems to get away with a lot of things most others wouldn’t. For example he is the only person in the world I allow to call me by full name, Eleanor.

I could tell you many stories of the mischief we got up to as kids, most of them running our poor parents and grandparents riot over the summer holidays and Christmas period. No matter what we did trouble always seemed to find us but that was always part of the fun.

Our favourite times spent together were at Gran and Granddad’s house in Cornwall. It didn’t happen very often but when it did we always had the best time.

The best time of all though was when Matthew was watching a football game, Manchester United against Manchester City. We all know how much he loved his football. Granddad had bet Matthew £1 that Manchester City would win. Of course once myself and Harry had found out, we wanted in. We’d all get a pound if Man united won but we’d all have to give granddad a pound if Man City won. I’d never watched a football game in my life, I didn’t understand but I sat and watched, cheering when Matthew and Harry cheered. In the end Man Untied won! We all cheered and screamed as ‘poor old’ granddad coughed up a pound to each of us.

Naturally, we wanted to spend the money straight away, so coats were thrown on and we hurried out the door with our pounds clutched tightly in our hands. We raced up the road belting out “Glory, glory Man United” to get our sweets. This was the only football game I’ve ever paid any attention to!
It was after that day that our grandparents said “never again!” to having us all together but of course there was an again followed by another “never again!” but yet we always seemed to charm our way around them.

The summers we spent in Cornwall together are no doubt my favourite memories with Matthew and I will look back and smile at them forever.

Fly high up there Matthew you will forever be in my heart.

– Eleanor Coombes