Losing someone close to you during your formative teenage years can affect you profoundly (A moment that changed me, 26 October). Like Amy Fleming, I too lost my best friend at 17.
In 1969 I started secondary school. Barbara was confident and bright, with fiery red hair. She was my protector from the school bullies. I was very shy. We were both studious – I loved French and she loved English literature. We were hardly ever apart. We would go to the iconic Wigan Casino and immerse ourselves in the Northern Soul scene. No drink or drugs, just non-stop dancing.
