Simon Sutherland was a school-friend of mine. We both attended Bonaly Primary School. I fondly recall playing with Simon in the large garden of his family home in Woodhall, Colinton. The house was sited on a corner plot and the garden was spacious and beautiful. Simon’s mum used to help us to explore the pond, and together we found all sorts of life. Simon’s mum was so kind. She was also a proud gardener and I remember her showing us the wonderful vegetable garden. This was my first introduction to globe artichokes – a vegetable and ornamental plant that I have loved ever since and a plant that I associate with kindness.
In 1985 I left Edinburgh to study Medicine in the University of Aberdeen. I lost touch with Simon. A decade later my mum shared this terribly sad news:
