It's with great sadness that I have to inform you that Tim Cross has died. Just six weeks ago he let me know he'd just been diagnosed with lung cancer. Unfortunately the diagnosis came late and the cancer was already spreading but Tim remained positive and the prognosis was that he could live for another couple of years. I visited him a few times since then and he remained cheerful and his usual funny, smart self, despite being weak and in a certain amount of pain. He talked about his hopes of playing one last concert with me, for you TUTS at this year's Earthbound. Sadly that wasn't to be. His health took a sudden turn for the worst last week and he passed on in a hospice yesterday evening. I'm told by his brother that it was peaceful and he was in no pain. The world is a less colourful and less musical place without him in it. I miss him.