As many in Newtown, Abermule and Montgomery know, my close friend David Hamer died without warning on Wednesday, August 6.

I found out in a short phone call with Gareth Pugh, himself choked up with the shock of such an unexpected fatality.

At 46, David wasn't old. Indeed, he'd had a health check a few weeks ago and as far as anyone knew he was in good shape. It's the utterly unexpected nature of his death which causes the most pain.

When a big character like David dies in our community here, folk really do rally round.

There's a kindness of spirit towards those closest to the deceased, and a quiet whisper means within days the whole community is on side to support those who find a vacuum in their lives.

David himself was the personification of much of what's best in Montgomeryshire. A man who travelled, but who always came back to his spiritual home. He liked nothing more than a pint and a chat on a Saturday afternoon, conducting his own brand of the "David Hamer School of Bar Room Philosophy." And if they did loyalty cards for pubs, David would have Gold Card Membership of the Abermule Hotel!

But he was also an unsung guru in things most of us never bother to read or learn about – like alternative art and world music. If you wanted to provoke him, all you had to do was play the Spice Girls, when he'd wince like a Trappist Monk forced to dance the Hokey Cokey.

He was also a political mentor. David's politics was hard set in socialism. His sympathies lay somewhere past Karl Marx, and anyone promoting a Conservative Future would get a detailed analysis of the ills of past capitalism.

Yet he didn't make foes, just debating partners.

For me as an MP, his perspective was priceless. Often David's opinions on things like Trades Unions or taxation influenced what I said and how I did in my work.

This gentle manner meant David Hamer had no enemies. His heart was just so good and whatever he was feeling, he'd never impose his problems on others: he'd rather fix yours instead.

I've lost a confidant, a dreamer… and the nearest I had to a brother after my own brother (Endel) died.

And Montgomeryshire has lost one of its kindest sons.

Thanks for the memories, David Hamer. Wherever you are, I hope that there's a pub!

And more than anything, dear friend, I hope you've finally found the peace of mind you gave us all, but never found yourself.