I first met Dan in Adelaide way back in the late 1980's when we started doing some business together. This business continued into the 1990's when Dan left Mercia Diagnostics and started  Microgen Bioproducts. We continued working together all through the 1990's during which time Dan made a few trips to Australia and always visited Adelaide. We always made sure that he had time for some good food, visit to our many wineries and on one occasion a golf game. I learnt a valuable lesson that day, never to go near a golf course with Dan when he had a hangover. It was a dangerous day out.

Around 2000, Dan offered me a job working with Microgen in the UK. It was a big move but in the end my wife and I decided that it would provide  a great opportunity for our children and so off I went. Dan and Margaret welcomed me and almost every weekend for the first year we would head out somewhere for Sunday lunch and we would have a fantastic time. At the end of the first year my wife became seriously ill and I had to return to Australia. Dan was so generous with how I could work and remain a contributing member of Microgen. It was so generous and I will always remember his support and encouragement during this time.

After my wife passed away, Dan rearranged my working conditions so that I could remain in Australia and continue working for Microgen. I continued working with Dan and the Microgen team for another 16 years. I would travel back to the UK twice a year and spend time with the Microgen Team and always with Dan and Margaret. Dan and I often undertook business trips together over the years including zigzagging across the US and Europe. I will never forget one trip where we had breakfast in the UK, Lunch in Venice, Italy and dinner back in the UK. For someone living in Australia where distances are so large, this blew me away.

Over approximately 30 years, Dan became not only a good and trusted friend but was also a fantastic boss. I will never forget the friendship and the opportunities that you gave me over the years.

I will miss catching up with you so much. You were a true friend.

Phil