I got a total shock today when I picked up the local paper, there was a photograph of Jon Boyce on the front of the Herald Express. By all accounts him and a friend were out late last Saturday evening when Jon was attacked by somebody who may have either punched or pushed him. Either way, Jon hit his head on the wall and then the pavement and has now sustained serious head injuries. He is now down Derriford Hospital in Plymouth which is a specialist hospital for head injuries. I can only hope that Jon makes a speedy recovery and is back on its feet very soon.
Ironically, Jon was one of four friends who was with me when I had my accident back in 1986 at Shoalstone swimming pool here in Brixham. Jon jumped into the water and I dived over as head, that is when I had my accident. I haven't spoken to Jon and quite a few years, although I've seen them from a distance a couple of times. I first met him way back in the early 80s when I used to come over to see my two cousins, Nick and Matt, Jon is the same age as both myself and my cousin Nick and was a very good friend of Nick. What can you say about Jon? A really funny guy, always the first person to have a smile on his face and to crack a joke, he made me laugh and more than one occasion. I remember the first time I met him, I was going through my skinhead phase and I was wearing a pair of 14 hole Dr Martens boots and a pair of bleached jeans. In between the top of my jeans and the top of my boots you could see my white rugby socks which needed darning. As quick as a flash Jon asked me if my socks were "believers", obviously with a puzzled look on my face I asked him what he was talking about, he then said that my socks were "wholy" as in holy. That was the first time I met him and he made me laugh my holy socks off.
I really hope that he's okay very soon and I wish him and his family all the best
