The name Melanie cropped up on the radio today and for some reason I found myself thinking about Melanie French who, as a member of the cabin crew, died on a plane that crashed in Tenerife in 1980. Looking at the details it happened, weirdly, on April 25th – today.

Her mum ran a small hotel/bed & breakfast place in Llandudno and Melanie would sometimes come to the Cash & Carry warehouse where I was working to pick up supplies. Such visits always caused a ripple of excitement amongst the young male staff – “Melanie’s in!” – such was her beauty, elegant poise and patient politeness with us salivating halfwits.

Her parents feature in this news report by a young Jeremy Paxman – whatever happened to him?