The death of French Mayor Patrick Simon due to COVID-19 highlights the personal horror of this affliction, dying alone without friends. (Adieu to a true friend of Australia, 15/5). Doubtless, many Australians would otherwise have visited this amazingly loyal man on his death bed and echoed appreciation for his grateful sentiments to our World War I Anzacs. Imbued with local history, he had his primary school education at the school that Victorians built in his French village. “Lest we forget” became the life mission for our “honorary Aussie” Mayor of Villers Bretonneux. RIP. Alan Sexton, North Parramatta. 16May2020.