I will always remember Mike Craighead’s cheeky smile and as one of life’s good guys. I knew Mike over a 15 year period and got to know him better as more people left Aberdeen. It was a time spent socialising in Drummond’s that I got to know him best. I was always in putting up posters for gigs but when I got a 9-5 job, I used to pop in after work for a couple of pints mid week, for a game of pool when I would see Mike and enjoy his company. Didn’t need to arrange it just knew he would be there. Quite often a couple led to a few more, then the bands would start followed by sampling the delights of the Belmont Street late night eateries in Aberdeen. I remember one Wednesday things started to get lively and Mike encouraged me to stay in for a lock in with the staff and a few of the local reprobates. Mike then suggested we continue the after party back at my flat at Schoolhill with the Drummond’s Staff and a number of randoms. He said don’t worry Al it won’t get out of hand as we are only taking a couple of cases of beer and 3 bottles of vodka. It was the best party I ever had at the flat, can’t really remember going to bed but when the alarm woke me up for work at 7am I could still hear the party going off. The living room still had about 10 random people left, people sleeping everywhere, Jolly was sleeping in my bath. I went through to the kitchen and Mike and Dode were cooking beans on toast. I looked at Mike and he smiled and said fancy a coffee Al and some breakfast. We ate breakfast and just had a pleasant chat. Then he said ‘good party last Al, don’t worry about all of this, get off to your work and I’ll look after you,’ I left Mike my only spare key. I had no choice otherwise I would be late for work. The day was a long one and I remember thinking what a bomb site the flat was and what actually was happening while I was gone. I remember thinking my only hope was Mike. On my home I got a text from Mike saying ‘your flat keys are in Drummonds’. When I went into Drummond’s, it seemed like the party was still there, everyone congratulating me on staging a big party. I couldn’t even stay for a beer and just wanted home. Didn’t really want to speak to anyone, picked up the key’s and headed home. I remember putting the key in the door of my flat, dreading the mess I was about to find and to my surprise the place was tidy. Everything was back in place, hoovered and the dishes done. Actually tidier than what I kept it. Then just as I sat down, a text came from Mike saying ‘finished work back in Drummonds fancy a quick one.’ So headed back to Drummond’s and there was Mike at the bar with a beer waiting. He smiled and said ‘I told you I would look after you. ‘ I was so happy to see him and during our conversation the thing I couldn’t understand was how he knew where everyone went back in the flat, and he told me that as it was Knoxy’s old flat that he probably stayed there more often and I have, and told me some of the tales of the stories of the flat. From that day onwards this became our inside banter when we saw each other, he would smile and say ‘don’t worry Al, I’ll look after you’. I live in America now and unfortunately can’t make the funeral but was deeply saddened to hear about his passing but will always remember him as a kind soul, genuine person and someone who always ‘looked after you’. RIP Mike … sadly missed