Colin Smyth.

Colin died last February on Malte-Brun, Few people knew him well; his abrupt manner discouraged them — but behind this was a thinking mind and a deep appreciation of the things that he valued: music, the hills and mountains, and chess (he was an accomplished player).

At 26, Colin had found his feet after several restless years; he was doing work which used his considerable ability in mathematics, and gave him a sense of satisfaction and purpose in life. A few days before the tragedy he wrote in his usual terse style:

"I'm switching to full-time computer programming - - - - - . Did aptitude test for it, results best ever in N.Z."

In the same letter he said:

"Am going climbing with Ali'stair, - - - - up the Tasman somewhere; getting ambitious. Hope we don't get another Southerly."

Colin's own words eptiomlze the sadness of his passing.