Was just listening to American Pie in my office, my thoughts turned to Dilip, still as clear as day I can see him grinning in Hardy's in Lan Kwai Fong as the Filipino band played it. I miss Dilip, he was a great person and a great friend.

Dilip's way of seeing the world was unforgettable. One afternoon, a propos of nothing that had been said earlier in the conversation, he remarked that he thought it was absurd that he should have to use words in a certain way just because everyone else did. "Why", he wondered, "should I say 'chair' instead of 'orange'? Maybe what I think when I say 'orange' is what you mean by 'chair'." No amount of discussion could sway him on this point, not even the suggestion that he might be a bit uncomfortable sitting on an orange, or find a chair inedible. I sometimes suspect that Dilip was the world's greatest master of deadpan comedy. One night, on the street outside the Fringe Club - which was as usual chock-a-block with red taxis, one of our party said that she was tired and was going to get into a cab. "Well", remarked Dilip, "you shouldn't have any trouble finding one". There was no flicker of a grin on his face, and he seemed perplexed that people laughed. "What's so funny?", he asked. "Just look - there are lots of taxis right here." Also unforgettable was his deep, utterly monotone voice. Just imagine him singing Elvis Costello's ballad, "She", with that voice - "Sheeeeeeeeeeeee may be the face I can't forge-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-t...". To say nothing of the ever-present Converse high-top trainers, the Rugby Sevens jerseys and the baggy shorts... He'll be missed.

My wife Janet and I have known Dilip since we arrived in Hong Kong in July 1992. Like many of his expat work colleagues who had arrived in what at first is a strange city we were immediately taken under Dilip's wing and he made sure that we were included in everything that was happening. Our first social event was a treasure hunt a few days after we arrived - unfortunately Hong Kong's weather intervened.....those of you that were there will remember that we were so new in town that nobody remembered to tell us it was cancelled! After that we enjoyed many events from Junk trips to dinners to Maclehose walking adventures. The common theme was Dilip acting as the catalyst and bringing them together and the fact that our group was constantly added to as Dilip found new lost souls to bring under his wing! Despite his long illness Dilip continued think first of others to be at the centre of the social world until recently and this i indicative of his selflessness in trying to look after others. With the turnover of people in Hong Kong over the past 15 years Dilip has had to say goodbye to a lot more people than most of us. It is very sad to finally be saying goodbye to him Dilip was a unique person with an uncanny knack of forming strong friendships quickly who warmed the hearts of everyone that he touched and the he will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.