I suppose in the light of last night's news about the Brexit vote, I should pause to talk about Kev's politics. Kev was a positive expert on that, and many other political topics. He had the time to read, watch and follow widely. It is gutting to think he won't see how it goes down. The PM should cancel the whole thing in tribute to him.

It goes without saying that Kev was left wing (in many ways, very left wing). But that wasn't just because of his heritage or where he'd grown up. It was underpinned by his deep, abiding sense of the equality of all humanity, and the kinship of us all. Many people have used the word 'kind' to describe him. That has its roots in the he idea of kinship. Kev was kin to the world. To him it wasn't so much about 'politics' as people. He never did understand those who could sacrifice human  beings for power.

So for him, we really are "all in this together". He was appalled and disgusted when he saw people who have more than they can possibly need or spend hoarding wealth to keep it away from those in need (often expressing it loudly and in strong language). The old principle that those with more should contribute more made perfect sense to him. He was a socialist in the best sense of the word, detesting 'liberal economics' and modern capitalism, which he could cut to shreds in debate not just for its inhumanity but for being bad economics. I wish I had half his grasp.

And his own issues were proof that people could be in need through no fault of theirs. Kev understood that people are not always where they are through their own mistakes or bad decisions. He understood that sometimes people find themselves in a place of having to choose between bad options. And that even if people sometimes make bad decisions, they are still people and still deserve care, a home and a basic standard of living. He knew that our life story shapes our decision making ability, and blamed no-one for being in need. Kev's beliefs were the very opposite of "every man for himself".

Kev believed passionately in the NHS - hardly surprising given he depended on it for his life. He even dragged himself on his mobility scooter to a few demos in Cornwall. It was, in a quiet way, reassuring and right that at the end the NHS fought so bloody hard to save him. He was their champion. He felt the same way about the welfare system. People in need were always people first.

This ran alongside his generosity. It was his idea that for our wedding we should request donations to our local food bank in lieu of gifts. Doing our weekly shop, he never added less than a fiver's worth of groceries to the trolley for them. And if they made an especial appeal, he would do a run to a discount supermarket on the scoot with as much money as we  could muster to fill carrier bags for them. People in need are people first. (I had looked to add them to the donations here, but maybe I'll do a collection in his memory for them later). We did gifts for the homeless, and all the clothes I can bear to part with will go there. When he moved to Cornwall, he gave a load of books and DVDs to charities rather than bring them down. We supported marathon runners and November moustaches and charities overseas

He was 'liberal' in his acceptance of people. A feminist, trans-friendly, anti-racist... he accepted everyone just as they were, and got riled if he saw people being illtreated. Often of a morning as we sat in bed sipping our morning tea he would explode in a rant over some story or other in the online news about how someone had been mistreated because of their colour, creed, gender or sexuality.

Sometimes it amazed me how he kept so optimistic in the face of all the horribleness in the world. But he did. He was capable of seeing good in everyone if they had good to show. Though his (offline) epithets for people who he saw as selfish were colourful. When I look at the world and get depressed, Kev would always look for hope. He was politically and personally hopeful.

He always supported anyone he thought was doing a good job. He made me switch my grocery shop to the store who paid living wage (real living wage, not the government's fake one.) We bought fair trade and locally sourced, and milk that pays farmers a good price.

And he worried about the planet. We recycled as far as possible, and it was Kev who wanted us to switch to an electric vehicle. Our electricity was already supplied from a green provider, so he wanted our car to be emission free too. He hunter down the most environmentally friendly light bulbs and filled the cupboard with them for when they needed changing. I don't even know which ones go where. He was hinting that when we could afford, he wanted solar panels and a storage battery. His love of science meant he was always up on the latest developments in green energy and ways to improve things. He was very proud of the Humber offshore wind farms.

So the world, the NHS and those in need have lost a champion and an advocate. Next time someone asks for a quid for coffee or you see energy saving bulbs on offer, put your hand in your pocket for Kev.