The fiancee of an amazing Burton guitarist has described the heartbreaking moment he reached out and grabbed her hand just moments before he died.
Mick Dyche and Pat Tate had made plans to tie the knot after 37 years together when he was diagnosed with cancer in February.
They initially set a date of December 14, but with Mick "improving" they decided to delay their big day until after Christmas.
The dad of two, weakened by his condition, caught a suspected virus and died on December 21, aged just 67.
His death followed a stunning career in which he played on top TV music chart show Top of the Pops and alongside legends of music like Joan Armatrading and Maddy Prior.
Pat said: "He reached out and touched my hand. It was such a huge shock.
Read the touching messages and stories music legends shared about Mick here
"He had been quite stable and the day before we'd been out shopping together.
"But since he'd lost a huge amount of weight, he must have caught a virus and it took him really quickly.
"The only comfort we can draw is he didn't suffer, was on his feet minutes before he passed and I was with him.
"The ambulance crew said they couldn't have saved him and apparently the cancer was about to take a turn for the worse.
"I'm just completely lost without him. People say it's a cliche, but I feel like I've lost a part of me.
"He's missing in my life, but he's there somewhere and I can draw strength from that at least."
Mick was from Burton, but his musical travels took him to London, Europe and the US before he settled down with Pat in Hereford.
He is known for being behind the iconic riff in Sniff 'n' the Tears' 1979 international hit Driver's Seat.
And he met singer Pat two years later when he was playing guitar for folk legend Maddy Prior.
Pat, now 59, said: "I was on the folk scene and Maddy is an old friend of mine.
"She was playing in Kendall, in the Lake District, where I was living at the time, and I was on the bill.
"She rung me and said 'this isn't a well-paid tour - can the band stay at your place? By the way, I've got a new guitarist who you'll love'.
"And luckily, he loved me as well.
"Shortly afterwards, he was supposed to be touring Sweden, but the tour fell through.
"He called me and said 'the tour's not happening, but I've still got paid - I'm coming up to see you'.
"We spent a magical week together in the Lakes that really galvanised our relationship. And we hadn't been apart since."
The couple have two sons, Milo and Ryland - 24 and 28 respectively - who are both musicians in their own right.
Pat said: "Mick was so proud of them and their talent.
"He lived and breathed music and also loved going out and taking photos.
"He was a really humorous guy to live with and was such great fun - he'd always look on the sunny side of life."
Mick's funeral is on Wednesday, January 16 at 2.15pm at Hereford Crematorium.
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