In the past couple of years, I'd become friendlier with Mark and Nadine. Years ago, Mark used to go out with my friend Smiff, and he was always part of the same scene, even after they split up. I always enjoyed catching up with them, although our catching up was a bit sporadic. We'd always laugh our heads off (Mark being a bit of a wit, with a filthy sense of humour, Nadine being no slouch in the filth stakes either). Recently, we went to see the Cave Singers and O'Death together and had a riotous night. We had such a good time, we went to see O'Death again a few weeks later with Frightened Rabbit. In December, he and Nadine had booked a chalet to ATP Nightmare Before Christmas and they had a spare berth. I've already blogged what a brilliant time I had there. I'd never have gone if he hadn't nagged me repeatedly, saying what a missed opportunity it would be, no time for caution and penny-pinching etc.
Typical Mark. The original Mr Seize The Day. The kind of bloke who followed his dream of working in film (his love of ridiculous and obscure Italian/Japanese horror is well documented) with a passion, realising his ambitions by first wangling a job as an art department assistant on the latest Star Wars films (according to his college mate and colleague, the job consisted of 3 highlighter pens and a lot of cross-referencing on endless reams of scene sheets). Hard work, talent and enthusiasm meant his career took off, graduating to art director on the Harry Potter films, and recently culminating in an Oscar nomination for the art department/art direction on Batman/The Dark Knight.
The week before Screw and the Brummie got married, Mark fell ill. We'd just been e-mailing about going to see Vetiver at Cecil Sharp House. He rang our friend Tim (currently about to become a doctor) to say he didn't feel too good. Tim saw him and said he should go to A&E, as he looked a little jaundiced. That was the Thursday. Mark waited until after the weekend. He went to his GP, who sent him to A&E for tests. By now, Mark was very ill. It turned out his liver was failing. A donor needed to be found quickly.
Mark didn't get a donor. One week later, he passed away.
His funeral was truly a celebration of his life. It was a humanist affair, held at Golders Green Crematorium. The music was Mark to a tee - Depeche Mode at the start, Ennio Morricone for the commital, and Huey Lewis And The News "The Power Of Love" to leave the ceremony. Three of his friends gave beautiful speeches, and the humanist minister read a piece from an interview by Mark's hero Steve Albini, which pretty much summed up everything Mark was about.
In recent years, I've watched two beloved sisters and my dear Dad fade away through cancer. But to have a loved one taken away so suddenly, and without any real warning, must be the hardest thing to bear for his wife Nadine and their families. Makes you realise how precious your time here is, and how that time should be enjoyed in whatever way makes you truly happy (and I don't mean laughing-your-tits-off stuff, just being at peace in your own head sort-of thing). Happiness and love are surely all that really matter.
