I worked with Arnold for over 20 years, in fact he was the reason I went to Bradford in the first place. I joined the University staff late in 1974 as a raw young lecturer and he guided me through the first year or so until I gained my feet, pointed out what was what, who was who, who was to be trusted, and who was to be avoided. He advised me on which students were idiots and which were going places. I think it’s fair to say that between us we had a pretty good track record of getting it right. Thanks largely to Arnold’s nurturing and patronage, there are now Bradford-trained  archaeologists ensconced in senior positions all over the country, as university Chairs, Directors of this, Heads of that, and many just enjoying working in archaeology thanks to the ‘Bradford Experience’ that Arnold did so much to create. 
He was pretty astute, but never played political games; he worked on the basis that being open,  honest and keeping your feet on the ground  was the best policy – a policy I’ve tried to follow ever since.  He was a true Northerner, and you have to be a Northerner to fully understand what that means. He was also a colleague, family friend and mentor; he was always a person I could ring up for advice even when he was in his 80s. And he never let me down. Thinking about it, and after nearly 40 years in the business, I don’t think I ever heard anyone say a bad word about him, and in archaeology, and in a university environment, that’s not a bad achievement!  
Let’s not forget his gardening. He knew more about horticulture than most people have had hot dinners, and keeping the impossibly large garden at Manor Vale in check was another remarkable success. I think that was probably his private world.  I had a colleague who remarked that archaeology was very similar to gardening, that both were rather like prayer. I had never thought of that before, but I think it’s probably true – both allow you the privacy to soul-search and to explore.
Arnold and I shared many things: archaeology; scientific solutions to problems; irresponsible dogs; unpredictable offspring; good malt whisky, and Northern Britain. On the downside, he supported Manchester United, but on this occasion I am prepared to excuse that.  Arnold, we shall all miss you.