Ace businessman, and founder of Shoes An’ Stuff, Olu Irele-Domingo is dead. At the time of this report, it’s still sketchy where he died but just four days ago, he was on Facebook where he talked about his friend Lee Jones. And on the 6th October, he commented on the death of Rod Temperton.
Below is the post he published on Facebook on 5th October 2016:
So, after a gruelling 3,650 mile plus trek, my good friend, Lee Jones is back on the island. I have known Lee for over nine years and though there have been times we were not in touch, due to whatever reason/s, we have always managed to get together every now and then and have a good time.
Lee lived out in the countryside, with rolling fields and forests. When I felt like it, I would go out there and soak it up a bit. When Lee felt like a bit of a night out he’d visit me in my town and we’d make a night of it. More often than not, I’d make him my signature scramble eggs, bacon and pancake breakfast before he left.
After one particularly good night out in Brighton last summer that we decided not to rush back home and found a lovely park in Portsmouth, sipped some ciders and shot the breeze, as you do, on a lovely summers’ day. It was then Lee told me about this Pacific Trail Trek that he was thinking of doing. Over 3,000 across California and ending up in Canada. I knew he could do it as he is the outdoorsy, rugged kind and would tackle almost anything.
Over the next few months, he prepared for the trek and as I dropped him off, to start his epic adventure, I felt a sense of pride to be part of the whole thing. I also had a feeling of trepidation, as there are grizzlies and rattle along the trail. The funny thing is even though he was not eaten by a bear or bitten by a rattle snake, he was hospitalised by an infected insect bite on his cheek. The irony of it.
Over time, we his friends and his family followed and encouraged him on the special Facebook page he set up, enjoying the pictures and views. In fact, he posted one of the best pictures that I think has ever been taken on the trail, with two of the walking companions he met on the way. Never mind the scenic views, the picture of the three of them, with their beards, is just awesome and speaks a hundred words.
A few nights ago, as I was dozing on my couch, my phone rang and it was Lee calling me from Canada. He had finished his trek and was sipping a cider in an Irish bar, about to go enjoy a Huskies game in the stadium. He had seen the feeds about me being poorly and thought to give me a call! Now, that is what real, proper friendship is about. Lee, welcome back. You may be of slight frame but you have the biggest of hearts and I look forward to many more years of friendship and cider sipping with you.
