Striding across the show field to his next photographic appointment, oozing confidence and happiness, a man on a mission, in his three-quarter length Khaki pants, short-sleeved white shirt casually unbuttoned at the top, Jackaru perched high upon his head and camera strap slung over his broad shoulder, displaying a cheeky grin as he passed you by, this is the image that many will have when thinking of Kevin, writes Tanya Mackrell.

One of life’s colourful characters, dramatic to say the least, straight talking, fun, warm, and a talented photographer, who took pride in his work that shone clearly through the special moments captured on film.

For those closest to Kevin there was another side, the family man, the sensitive, caring partner, father, son and friend, and for those people the loss is immeasurable, a life taken too soon, with so much more to give than the time he was here with us allowed.

Happy memories there will always be of Kevin, never one to mince words, what you saw was what you got and you couldn’t help but fall for his charm, always there to lend a hand in a crisis, always willing to help others without a second thought, sleeves rolled up and getting stuck in, in his usual charismatic manner.

Kevin was born in Camberley, Surrey on the 23rd July 1975. When just three-years-old he travelled with his parents to Jakarta, Indonesia, and from there he went on to live in Toronto, Canada returning to the UK at the age of eight.

On leaving High school, Kevin assigned himself to an engineering course at college but very quickly decided that photography was where his passion lay, and so he turned his hand to what he saw as his vocation in life. Upon qualifying he covered many weddings and christenings for friends, but never utilised his talent to his full potential until later on.

In 2003 Kevin met Lisa at their local Kick Boxing Club. It was soon clear to all that knew them, this was game, set and match. Lisa was the love of his life, his best friend, his soul mate, and together they faced the many challenges life threw at them, every part of their life was entwined.
In 2005 Kevin and Lisa welcomed the arrival of their beautiful son Leon; being a father meant the world to Kevin, and he took to his duties as a doting dad with great adoration and enthusiasm.

Kevin had always had a four legged friend, firstly Sony (a campong dog) in Jakarta, then Badger another rescue dog while in his teens, but it wasn’t until meeting Lisa and sharing in her appreciation of dogs that his true love of dogs began. Although Kevin showed several of Lisa's Australian Silky Terriers under the affix Limartine, including his much loved dog Reggie, his main love was the Giant Schnauzer, which he showed and also bred under the Roterhund affix. Entering the world of dogs also allowed him to persue his passion for photography through his work for Royal Canin and then latterly for Dog World.

Kevin loved his family and dogs more than life itself and for them the void left is so great. The absence of Kevin at the ring side will also be felt considerably, part of the makeup of the Silky and Giant show rings, the familiar face amongst the exhibitors, a face that will be sadly missed, but never far from our thoughts.

I am sure that all those who had the fortune of knowing Kevin, will join me in sending Lisa, Leon, Isobel and all the family, our warm wishes and heartfelt sympathy at the untimely loss of Kevin, a bright light gone but never forgotten.

Kevin’s funeral will be on Tuesday 22nd June, at 12.40pm at Crewe Crematorium, (entrance and parking on Badger Ave). Family flowers only. Donations to Support Dogs (dogs specially trained to detect epileptic seizures). Kevin's family would also like you to join them afterwards at the Hunters Lodge Hotel, Sydney Road, Crewe, CW1 5LU.

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