Bad news today.  I learned that a pal died.  His name was Erne Parkin, and he was a mensch.

Erne is 2nd from left

I met him around 2003 when I was working for a production company in Glasgow.  He was a frequent client and during my time there we hit it off pretty well.  When I went freelance he practically supported me, and we became very good friends. All my other clients would come up with a few jobs and then I’d hear nothing for months.  Erne, however, had a steady stream of work (which I guess he depended on too), and though there weren’t mega-bucks, it was fair and it was steady.  Were it not for him, I might have ended up back in a call centre.

I was also pleased to get him work when I could.  When the fledgling Cage had a corporate job that needed a director, we’d bring him in.  He was great at presenting ideas to the suits and getting them enthusiastic enough to leave us alone while we made it, while keeping us in check, making sure we delivered what he’d made them expect.  One video in particular made such a hugely popular splash at one corporation that I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s still being shown to this day.  That was thanks to Erne.

He was also one of those guys that always had some art cooking.  The folk band he fronted recorded and played live frequently; he had a script for a multi-part TV serial about Robert Burns ready to go; and he was surrounded with memorobilia from shoots he directed and produced.  As I hung out with him, I often thought that he was something of a role model.  I’d think that if I got into my sixties being as creative and vital as him, I’d be doing very well.

Latterly, I hadn’t seen much of him but I was still very aware of his presence.  I’d arrive at STV to do an edit, and the project open on the Avid was obviously one of his.  “He was just here.”  It seems that I ‘just missed’ Erne for the last year or so, but he was always around.

Well, not any more.  He was young enough that his death was unexpected.  When I got off the phone to the mutual friend who broke it to me, I told my wife, and she got it right immediately.  “At least lived his life well,” she said, “and was spared the long, slow demise [we've both seen members of our family suffer].”

Everyone who knew Erne liked him enormously, and a lot of folk knew him. He did live a good life.  He had a great family whom he supported doing things he loved, and doing them well.  Even now, he’s a good model.

If I can do as well, I’ll be happy.

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