SIMON Graham, former assistant and office manager to trainer Capt Donald Swan, passed away peacefully last Sunday. He was in his early 80s.

Charlie Swan said: “Simon was a lovely man. My father met him at the train station when they were both being sent to boarding school at seven years of age. Simon had survived polio and his mother asked my father to look after him. They remained friends for life.”

Simon is survived by his wife Clodagh (Armitage). In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations, if desired, be made to Polio Survivors Ireland.