Dear Matt,

I can’t believe that we are celebrating another birthday without you here to blow out your candles!

Just because you are no longer here doesn’t mean that everyone has forgotten you – on the contrary you are still uppermost in our thoughts. The number of people who say to me what an effect you had on their lives is impressive – I think that you would be surprised.

A lot has happened in the last twelve months. Probably the most important was your graduation, which in typical Oxford style was mostly in Latin – thankfully the Principle was there to help us follow the ceremony. It was great to see many of your friends graduate. It was easy to imagine you walking with them, head held high.

There have been several wonderful tributes to you over the last twelve months including: a marvellous bench at QMGS organised by Alec Burns, the implementation of a ‘Travel for Good Purposes’ Annual Scholarship by St Edmund Hall, the Matt Greenwood Engineering Outreach Annual Award by the Oxford University Engineering Department, and a Four purchased by SEHBC named the ‘Matt Greenwood’ – to ensure that you will still row down the Isis for many years to come. Dad & I have also put a bench into Teddy Hall, it sits in the courtyard against the back wall of the chapel – a quiet space where people can sit and think.

Several people have raised money for cancer research on your behalf – Charlotte Corner & Holly Richards both ran 10 k and raised over £600, Pat Denihan ran the Birmingham International Marathon and raised £2,500. Pat said that thinking of you helped her beat the cramp that began to develop in her calf when she was part-way through. Thanks also to both Tom Barrett, who dedicated his karate seminar to you, and Sensai Paul, who did a collection; both raised money for the YPU.

Also, I thought you’d like to know that you’re still travelling the globe. Over the past twelve months you’ve been to: South Africa, Borneo, Amsterdam, Dublin, Rome, Verona, Venice, Madeira, and to the top of Mount Snowdon.

I thought I’d post a picture of you from when you were still young enough to have a ‘Pog’ birthday. He has to be the best magician we ever saw.

I hope that you can celebrate your birthday wherever you are, and know how much you are still loved.

We miss you so much, but I’m sure you know that.

Lots of birthday hugs, kisses, and all our love,

Mom, Dad, Simon, Lucy, & Holly

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