Gerard was born Gerard Francis Semple on the 15th February 1971; an auspicious day in many ways. He was known as DD to the local shopkeepers and his sister told all her friends that his name was Decimal Semple. And his brother told his teacher that mummy had a baby but it was a real one this time. His parents, especially his mum, said he was named after the footballer, Gerry Francis.
 
Gerard was a beautiful baby and was often to be found suspended in the doorway in his baby bouncer, and on one occasion in a rather unfortunate situation involving a potty and the lounge carpet.  But he was also a good climber and would scoot to the top of the support poles in the local corner shop, before swivelling his way down in an early example of pole dancing.
 
He was best known for his unerring sense of direction or rather his ability to get lost. His immediate family will never forget a three-year-old Gerard missing for over an hour on a farm in Ilfracombe, only to be discovered wandering around the woods at the bottom of the hill trailing his nappy behind him. Or in more recent years on an extended family trip to Centre Parks going out for a brief cycle ride and not reappearing for four hours, when, following a panicked phone call from him, a search party was sent out to recover an exhausted Gerard who for the life of him could not find his chalet.
 
Gerard left school at 16 and started work at Eagle Star in Reading. Many other work opportunities presented themselves to him and it is testament to Gerard ‘s success that many former work colleagues are here today.
 
In 1993, Gerard married Maria and between them they produced two very talented children, Anna and Alexander. Gerard was inordinately proud of both. Following his divorce, Gerard was fortunate to find Celina with whom he formed an abiding relationship.
 
Gerard died on the 11th March 2023 at the too young age of 52, a much loved father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, partner, and friend