A memorial bench has been installed in Sully to commemorate the special bond between Casper the dog and Derek Tantum, a resident who passed away in September aged 80.

"Derek would have loved this," says Philippa Moss-Vernon as Casper poses for the cameras on a foggy November morning.

"They really were best friends."

Perfect for each other

Derek Tantum was 75 and living alone when Casper came into his life four years ago.

"My son bought Casper for a girlfriend," Philippa says. "That relationship lasted about two seconds! Afterwards, he went to live in the Lake District so I got left with Casper."

Philippa's a dog lover, but as a full-time retail employee in Penarth she had no intention of adopting a puppy at that time.

"French bulldogs are so needy so I was just thinking: 'What's he going to do all day when I'm working? Who's going to walk him?'

"That's when Derek knocked on my door and said 'I'll take him out'."

And so, a friendship was born.

"Derek had been my close friend and fabulous neighbour for 15 years. He was always the most amazing, warm, funny and generous guy. But he had no family, so going out with Casper was good for him.

"Whatever the weather, he would get out with Casper and chat with all the dog walkers. Anyone who knew Derek will tell you that he would chat with anyone, and having Casper was a great conversation starter.

"It was good for both of them. Casper would spend hours outdoors and Derek would get to go and chat up all the local ladies. They were perfect for each other."

Derek and Casper became familiar faces on the Sully dog walking scene. According to Philippa, "all the ladies loved him".

At first, I thought she was referring to Casper…

"No, no. Derek was a handsome man for his age and you just couldn't help but love him – just one of those big-hearted, lovable people.

"I think it's right to say that the dog changed Derek's life. Casper kept him going and he lived for the dog. They just formed this incredible bond almost instantly."

Saying goodbye

Derek and Casper had been walking together for four years when Derek became unwell.

A video taken just a week before lockdown shows Derek on his 80th birthday laughing and dancing with friends – many of whom he met through Casper.

"But it all happened so quickly," Philippa tells me with a tear in her eye.

Shortly after a routine kidney operation in April, Derek began having chest pains and was admitted to hospital.

Philippa says that due to COVID the hospital was unable to perform all the necessary tests and ultimately failed to detect the cancer that had reached Derek's bones.

By the time he was diagnosed in July, Derek's condition was terminal. Due to the heavy painkillers he had been prescribed, Derek had a fall two weeks later and an ambulance was called.

"They came and stayed for nearly two hours in the end," says Philippa. "The whole time they were there, Casper wouldn't leave Derek's side. The ambulance people were nearly crying – I definitely was."

A fortnight later, Derek was taken to Marie Curie Hospice in Penarth where he was visited by many of his dog walking friends.

"Marie Curie staff are so amazing that they let Casper come in so they could say their goodbyes," says Philippa through tears.

"Casper jumped straight on the bed and gave him a big kiss. I'm sure he could tell there was something wrong, but he just gave him a big cuddle."

Derek Tantum died on 10 September. According to Philippa, Casper still waits at his door.

I never met Derek, but those who did invariably say the same thing: "You would have loved him."

Forever remembered

Of all the dog walkers Derek befriended through Casper, it was perhaps with Sarah Lloyd that he formed the closest bond.

Sarah and Derek would often sit with their dogs and chat for hours.

"I miss him like mad," she tells me. "I still find myself saying: 'Morning, Derek'. He was just a really special man."

When Sarah first came up with the idea of commemorating Derek with a bench, Derek was still alive. He was characteristically thrilled with the idea.

"I talked to him about putting his name on one of the benches on the field and he thought it was great," Sarah recalls. "But then we found out you have to reach 100 to get one of those so I said 'What are we going to do Derek?'

"Then I came up with the bright idea of getting him his own bench. When I told him, he got all teary-eyed. He absolutely loved the idea.

"But of course, he died within six weeks of his diagnosis. So, we ordered him the best bench in the whole wide world."

Sarah and 12 other dog walkers raised £765 for the bench. The £190 surplus was split and shared between Marie Curie and the Dog's Trust.

Sarah says the choice of inscription - "Derek and Casper – Best Friends" - was an obvious one.

"Casper was his whole life. he used to say Casper was what got him out of bed in the morning. He would always call him: 'My son.'"

Testament to Derek's popularity and the community spirit in Sully, contractors Swanbridge Maintenance and Grab It offered to install the bench free of charge.

"He would always stop and chat with everyone," says Richard Paton of Swanbridge Maintenance. "He was such a good guy and it's important that he's remembered.

A small crowd of Derek's friends and their dogs (including Casper of course) gathered at the bench for its installation. It takes pride of place near Sully Pavilion.

"It's funny," Sarah tells me. "When I first thought of the bench idea I was eying up one at the top of the field where Derek and Casper used to walk. When I suggested this to Derek he said: ''No! No one will go up there!'

"He'll love this because he'll get to be centre of attention. He was always like that – such a big child.

"He will be remembered forever now and remembered for his friendship with Casper."