Very very sad to hear about the death of James (04 at Churchills). When on point he was one of the fastest couriers I've ever controlled, though he did have his fair share of disasters on the road, most unintentional: setting off the fire alarms in a large building on Buck pal rd, getting banned from Harrods for pissing outside a door in Basil st "they kept me waiting", crashing bollock first into a bollard in Broadwick st etc. But when he was good he was really good.
I know he struggled over the last two years but I'm really sorry it ended this way.
My thoughts go out to his whole family especially his mum.
I knew James from 6 years ago (he was also 52 at pink and worked at Mach1 for a while), everybody knew him. He lived for his life as a courier, he was fucking fast and he was a fuckng nice guy. Everything went wrong for him at one point and things were never the same for him since. A turn of events that could happen to anybody. he was a mate and I will miss him.
I found out about this not long after it happened, but didn't want to post it here as I didn't know him too well. The first time I met him, he asked (soon becoming a classic courier question) where Bishop Square was, and was eager to know how I was getting on (I also work for Churchills). The second time we met was when I had to pick up a parcel from him on Moorgate. He was still keen to know how I was getting on and we chatted for a while. He asked if I wanted a sarnie, and with a grin revealed that his bag was full to the brim with Pret sandwiches which they were going to chuck out, though he wouldn't reveal the secret location of that particular Pret.
We made plans to have a few drinks, and I never saw him again. RIP James (08 he was, when I was there)... wish I'd gotten to know ya better mate.
James was such a great guy, one of the first people to talk to me when I started. And man, did that guy love Pret!...esp. the cheesecake. He used to blaze through the intersection by Queen Str. over Southwark yelling "You just have to be assertive", ha ha! Nutter! I will always have fond memories of the guy. RIP buddy, and condolences to all those near to him xxx