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About John Peel
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No.1 Son and No.2 Son Sandra Holden phoned to tell us what she calls her son's boyfriend. Since David was No.1 son, Will has become No.2... David was an only child. He had a close relationship with his parents and his mum, Sandra, guessed that David was gay before he told her.
He'd 'come out' at university, and met Will in his final year. David was outgoing, a great champion of student rights, and later of Aids charities. Will avoided public attention. Sandra finally met him after the couple had graduated and moved to Brighton. She liked him immediately.
She had described Will as her 'son in law', which David thought was a bit naff. Then, when a friend of Sandra's referred to David as 'no 1 son', Sandra thought 'bingo!' Will became no. 2 son.
Tragically, David had a cardiac arrest aged 28, and died after four days in hospital. Sandra was outraged that the hospital wouldn't tell Will the nature of David's condition (he'd suffered massive brain damage) until David's parents arrived, despite the fact that they'd lived together for 6 years.
The Holdens planned David's service of cremation with Will and have continued to think of him as no.2 son. So in 1999 when he decided to take a year out to do his Masters Degree, and they helped him financially. They knew that David had been planning to do so, and were proud and sad to be taking his place.
If and when Will finds a new partner, Sandra says she'll react as she did for David; she'll keep her fingers crossed and hope it works out.Are your children's friends and lovers now part of the family?
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