Twink, Mark as I mostly knew him, was four years older than me and never let me forget it. We lived in community, sharing accommodation in the first large house the community purchased, and then in a smaller house in Daventry, a total of ten years. I moved out several years before Mark.
Mark was always a rough diamond. He would not suffer fools, nor take direction from any he did not respect, but he gladly and willingly took many under his wing, mostly the youth who, growing up in a radical society, were often unheard.
Many of these confided in Mark, telling him of their personal experiences, which were seen at the time as unbelievable. Having moved out of the community, he tried to get help for the many who placed their trust in him, but this fell mostly on deaf ears. I am certain that many of those teenagers will always be grateful for all the time, support and effort Mark put in to help them over a period of many years.
Not always the most polite person, it was not uncommon for him to tell someone to eff off - quite happy to call a spade a spade, yet extremely humble and welcoming to any he liked. He was both popular and notorious…
None of us knows what lies before us in this life, and Mark, sadly, suffered more than most in his latter years. As we age, those of us with most of our friends and many we call family part of a life experienced several decades ago there is a certain loneliness hard to describe. I spoke with Mark many times but visited him only once. I loved him as a brother and respected his choice of lifestyle both before, during and after community. He was a hard worker, a good friend, and I wish him well - looking forward to seeing him again on the other side.
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