“A 5ft bundle of grit and charm, Jo was an amazingly talented and fun friend”

On Thursday afternoon, I had an open but unsent email on my computer screen: “Brendan, Fingers crossed and thinking of you all. D”.

I had written it on hearing the shocking news that Brendan’s wife, Jo Cox, had been shot, and uncertain whether sending an email was the right thing to do or not, had delayed pressing the send button.

My dilemma was soon irrelevant when the dreadful news came through that Jo ...