Letter to Tracey and Ben from Jane and Stephen

In 1986 we owned a Cocteau Twins album; "Victorialand" was beautiful and melodic and special to both of us, until a friend pointed out that it wasn't an album - it was an EP and we'd been playing it on 33rpm instead of 45rpm.

This goes some way to apologise - we are crap fans. We've just read Tracey's book and were both struck by how you have been the backdrop to our lives. And we missed so many of your albums. We're not true fans. Don't read this! But, that said, your book made us realise that you were always there.

We met at Bradford university and it seems that you were there from the very beginning. Everyone had "Pillows and Prayers" which included songs by both of you as solo artists, the Marine Girls and EBTG. Four out of 17 songs! Jane also had "Lazy Ways" and "A Distant Shore" - on her stereo all the time. Stephen can picture her in her room with the latter.....

Eden was really cool and "Each and Every One" symbolises our time at Uni. We remember all of the women on the Tube were dressed like Tracey. We even had haircuts like you.

But the next memory is driving through the outback in Australia. The two albums that bring back the best memories of that time in 1986 were Paul Simon's Graceland and "Baby the Stars Shine Bright". We remember our Australian friend Geoff, hearing the lyrics to "Come on Home" - especially "I've been behaving myself for too long" - and howling with laughter as we drove across New South Wales.

The next time Stephen remembers you was when "Protection" came out. It brings back a painful memory of a car shunt when he was listening to the album....But it's like we'd grown up with you. Had we matured? Jane loved the Walking Wounded album.

And then we came full circle. Our first son was born a few months after your twins and to take you up to 2010, we played "Oh the Divorces" to the kids in the car. And New Year 2012, playing "Plain Sailing" to our Neice, who loved it.

Jane's got the Xmas album but it's still in its cellophane wrapper. Because we're not diehard fans. Sorry.... But we both appreciated Tracey's book. Because Stephen used to shop at J and J Records, because we met as a couple at a Yorkshire University, because we've had our share of challenges, but because there was a time when we hogged each other's time. No one else got a look in. Now, two young people do! But mainly we appreciated it because you were always there for us. I can't think this is the end.

Your book was about you - but it was also about us. So thank you.

J and S.