When I first arrived at this place some 10 and a half years ago, I expected it to be very tribal and highly party-politicised. Naturally, in some ways it was. However, it was this unassuming gentle giant who convinced me that, outside this Chamber, it wasn't and it isn't like that. It was Carl's warmth, his affection and his kindness that persuaded me that our party politics should stay in this Chamber and that, outside, our humanity should always come first. That's why it was always a pleasure to be in his company and I always enjoyed having a drink with the big man.

Of course, it was clear he loved the Labour Party and it was clear he loved his constituency and representing his local area. His dedication and commitment to the people he represented always shone through in all the discussions I had with him. For me, he was fun to be with and there was always a glint in his eye. Every time I saw him, he oozed that cheeky chappy attitude. You never knew what he would say, which made being with him all the more entertaining.

That sense of fun certainly came through when, a few years ago, some of us in this Chamber celebrated Lesley Griffiths's birthday. I remember we arrived in a well-known Cardiff Bay pub and I recall standing at the bar when, suddenly, I started to hear friends and colleagues around me laughing. I glanced across and all I saw was Carl pointing to his jumper. I then looked at what I was wearing and I realised, to my horror, that we were wearing an identical jumper. But it doesn't end there. In fact, we were both also wearing dark trousers and, of course, as you would expect, someone started calling us twins. For those of you who've seen the 1988 film Twins, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito—well, Carl insisted for the rest of the evening that he was Danny DeVito and not me. 

That's what I will always remember about Carl. Every time I was with him, we would laugh. But he was a serious and committed politician who cared about his constituents, and he got people. He understood people. After all, politics is about people and Carl definitely got that.

Llywydd, for me, I will miss a political opponent. I will miss his banter in this place. I will miss his funny comments in this Chamber. But more importantly, I will miss a personal friend.