Claude De Larey

Claude De Larey died tragically on Sunday September 28. More than 400 people joined a tribute group for Claude on social networking site, Facebook, just days after his death. Friends who posted tributes to Claude, who had managed The Gallery restaurant in Coventry and also previously worked for The Observer in Leamington, described him as 'beautiful' and 'the perfect man'. Another friend wrote: "You will be deeply missed by so many people who were lucky enough to have met and known who. You were a true friend to me and the first person to ever put trust in me or believed in me which I'll always be thankful to you for." Another said: "Can't stop thinking about not ever being able to shake your hand again, everyone who knew you loves you, and there was no-one like you, you're irreplaceable and I'm gonna miss you a lot man." And another wrote: "The world is a little less bright without you in it." Friend and Observer deputy editor, Kevin Unitt, said: "He spoke of friends with the highest regard, and I can't remember him having a bad word for anyone, even for me when - as he was dressed as one third of a menacing-looking Chinese trio at an Oriental-themed party -I'd borrowed his girlfriend's dressing-gown to complete my own look. "His sheer love of life, and an almost constant cheeky grin, is how I'll remember him. That and for just being a thoroughly nice guy."