Adriaan Pekaar asked Max Adams:

Hello Max, my name is Adrian Pekaar. I was a good friend of your father Warwick, when and after he was my creative director in Holland. I now live in Wexford, Ireland with my (also) Dutch partner Gerda Teljeur who is an artist and nature lover. That's why we bought your magnificent book about trees and we love it. When you were 12 or so, I met you once in our office in Amsterdam. Do you know if Verena is still alive?

Max Adams Dear Adrian, how very nice to hear from you. I remember our meeting well; and Warwick often spoke about you. I had a few visits to Holland, both then and afterwards when they lived in Haarlem. Oddly enough, I had a Dutch partner for many years, so my son Jack, now 20, is half Nederlands. I lived in Rotterdam for a little while and liked it immensely. Verena is still going; she has been very poorly in recent years but she's as tough as old boots and living in North London; I can let you have her address if you'd like to get in touch. I wonder if you knew Paul Cordsen, Wariwck's oldest friend? He and his partner Beth are still going, more or less strong, and I get down to see them every year when I can.

Warwick was incredibly supportive of my late-starting writing career. He died just as I was starting my novel, The Ambulist, in 2010; a great shame, because he was a superb editor, as you know. If you are ever in Northumberland it would be great to meet. I am often in Ireland, but usually confined to Inishowen in Donegal, where I run a small archaeological project. I'm so glad you like the tree book. I'll write more on trees one of these days, but I'm dealing with Vikings at the moment. I have a small tree plantation near where I live and wait, impatiently, for them to grow... All best wishes you and Gerda.

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