Au revoir to Craig ‘Clay’ McGinty!

So we waved goodbye to Craig McGinty this morning – if tweeting a last 140 character message of encouragement can be classed as waving.

There’s been a few occasions to say farewell to one of Manchester’s best-known (and liked) digital journalists recently – mostly involving mind-bending levels of alcohol – but this morning’s little tweetings were a sober affair.

With his car and dog packed, Craig is setting off to do what so many claim to want to do, but so few are ever brave enough to.

Driving into France for a new life armed with the tools of his trade – laptop, contacts, blog, charm and guile.

I can’t remember when I first met Craig – I think it was probably a Digital Editors’ Network session – but whenever it was, he quickly became a valued and trusted contact and friend.

When we set up Manchester’s Social Media Cafe, he was a great supporter of it and hosted one of the most lively sessions we’ve had to date about blogging and advertising –  coming to our assistance when we realised the budgets probably wouldn’t stretch to Clay Shirky!

It will be fascinating to see how This French Life develops from here on in and I know Craig won’t be a stranger, despite the distances – he is after all, connected.

All the best!