A little like Twain and Leacock, Jim had a knack for spinning the ridiculous that is all around us into goofy jokes. Looking back thirty years, it was great fun to leave the office to chat with Jim over coffee… when we both should have been working.

Those who knew Jim well, will recall his sense of humour. But some may have forgotten about Jim’s athletic pursuits. While in his mid-forties and my son was a teenager, Jim and Eric joined the Exeter tennis club. They were often paired for doubles. Eric was very good. Hard to get a ball by him. Jim was effective at the net, where he usually planted himself at the ready.

One evening I wandered to the courts. Jim and Eric faced a pairing that looked much like my son, fitness-wise. Jim looked ‘otherwise’

As usual, Jim went to the net, at the ready. Eric served. The return went deep. It was a tough get but Eric’s shot was likewise deep. Jim turned his head left as the ball sailed by. He then watched the next shot nip the corner. Eric fired a low one to Jim’s left. He watched it go by. The next volley flew past him, within reach, if only he’d seen it. Jim got himself ready again. Eric sent another one deep. The next volley zoomed by, as Jim again watched, still at the ready. Then, a shot came right at Jim. But it was coming fast. The smart decision was to duck, so he did.

And so it went. Back and forth. Back and forth. Eric racing from corner to corner, returning everything. Meanwhile, Jim stayed at the net, knees slightly bent, racket properly positioned, his head turning left, then right, then left, and so on.

Some rallies go on forever. This was one of those rallies… until Eric pegged the far corner. Though out of position, their opponent somehow got a racket on it. But when the ball came back, it did so weakly. It was headed right at Jim. Luckily, he had maintained his ‘at the ready’ readiness.

With the ball practically floating there, right in front of him, Jim slammed that ball into the cinders. Winning point, Jim.

Eric laughed. I laughed. The opposing doubles team laughed. Then strutting a little, Jim walked over to my son, “Eric,” he said. “You carried me longer than my mother did.”