We couldn't believe it! Our friend Bill, although turned 60, yet the fittest man hereabouts, had died in his sleep of a heart attack on 24 November. It rocked the local community. The outpouring of grief and support from locals as well as British immigrants was remarkable.

Apart from many acts of kindness by Spanish neighbours, for example offers of meals for Bill’s widow, Jill, in the immediate aftermath of his passing, the support of Montejaque Town Hall was unprecedented. Not only did they put themselves and the village services at Jill’s disposal, they didn’t charge her a céntimo. They donated a nicho, or niche, in the village cemetery and provided all their funeral facilities free-of-charge.

The funeral parlour in nearby Ronda also prepared the body and provided a coffin and agreed to waive their charges.

The support of Bill’s friends and relatives has also been excellent. Despite the short time between death and burial here, 24 hours, several managed to fly out from the UK in time, to join the several dozen mourners of six nationalities, who live in the Serranía de Ronda.

British neighbours have also helped Jill immensely by providing practical, as well as emotional support since the death two weeks ago. They have most generously contributed towards the cost of a marble lápida, or headstone, for the niche, which was fitted just before Christmas. There is now a permanent and fitting memorial to a man who enriched the lives of so many in our quiet village.