Lead Adventure Forum
Other Stuff => General Wargames and Hobby Discussion => Topic started by: nicknorthstar on June 08, 2021, 10:07:01 PM
-
It's with great sadness that I share the news that Duncan Macfarlane has passed away. He was a great friend, and someone we saw every day at North Star's HQ, right up to the day he went.
His friends at the Newark Irregulars club have posted this obituary, I think it says everything I'd like to say about Duncan:
https://thepartizanshow.blogspot.com/?fbclid=IwAR0b0l7Y4V03SxyqXA2ABQfCKUS1tboiaKkvPhDhFXFO4EGxjl7aLd1DPqQ (https://thepartizanshow.blogspot.com/?fbclid=IwAR0b0l7Y4V03SxyqXA2ABQfCKUS1tboiaKkvPhDhFXFO4EGxjl7aLd1DPqQ)
I'd just like to share this picture of Duncan I took in 2008 in The Trip To Jerusalem pub. As everyone who knew Duncan would testify, he very much treated pubs as a 'second office' and were his favourite meeting rooms to discuss business. At this particular meet, he was with myself, Alan Perry and the figure painter James Bowen.
-
Really sad news, Duncan was a thoroughly nice guy, and generous with his time. I always enjoyed my time at The Irregulars...I honestly didn’t play that many games as it was always more fascinating to just have a coffee or two and talk (and mainly listen) to some of the larger than life figures of our hobby, of which Duncan was certainly one.
On one of the rare occasions I actually got a game in, I can recall Duncan decimating my Romans, but it was one of the most enjoyable games I’ve played.
A true gentleman.
:(
-
He was a great guy and will be missed.
I initially met him in the late 70’s at the Model Engineer Exhibition and then at various conventions around the UK.
Also talked to him at Historicon a few years back.
He always had time for a chat and always seemed to remember your name.
RIP Duncan
-
Never had the pleasure of meeting him, but a name who has been around in the hobby ever since I can remember.
This, I think I would not be remiss in posting:
Battleground, hosted by Edward Woodward, with Duncan MacFarlane as one of the two commanders refighting Edgehill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNiRXIxIftY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNiRXIxIftY)
-
I had the pleasure of meeting Duncan at a few Historicon conventions. I also had the pleasure of getting absolutely trashed by his Hinchcliff Sassanid Persians during the WAB tournaments that we both played in. He was a very gracious victor and I remember he would apologize for his good dice rolls. He was the definitive war gaming gentleman and sportsman. You can see this from the video above.
RIP Duncan.
-
Sad news indeed, RIP
-
Very sad news indeed.
I knew Duncan through writing for WI. He was always very easy to deal with, very encouraging. Other people have mentioned his somewhat eclectic approach to paying people, but I never found that so.
A sad loss to the wargames world.
-
Sad loss & a shock. I was hoping to have another chat with him
at Hammerhead in a few weeks time.
One of my memories of Duncan was when finally I got a picture
of my SYW Saxons into the magazine, only for them to be labelled,
belonging to the other Peter in Scimitar & 'French' !!!!!
Duncan was most profuse & generous in his apologies.
He was a gentle man & will be greatly missed.
-
Sad news. RIP
-
Sad news indeed. he influenced my early steps into the hobby. Rest in peace.
-
oh gosh, no great age. My goodness how I enjoyed his mags over the years.
good to hear he was a jazz fan :)
RIP
-
Always found him friendly and witty.
Used to chat with him at shows.
Nick Eyre used to share a stall with him at Derby.
But first met Duncan in the late 1970s or early 80s in Newark. Was at a large Sealed Knot event and in town on the Saturday lunchtime went into a pub with a dozen Scots (O'Cahan's regiment) who introduced me to the boardgame Kingmaker. The ideal game to play in a pub with a dozen rowdy Scots. Anyway, after a couple of hours one of them said "let's go visit Citadel HQ" and so we did.
We knocked on the door of the Victorian-looking workshop to be greeted by Duncan, who was possibly the only one on duty in the casting room? Anyway, he gave us a quick tour and we got to look at lots of new shiny metal before it got bagged up.
-
Hi Fastolfrus.
I didn't quite 'share' a stand with him at Derby. This story is totally Duncan.
Duncan couldn't drive. But he had a stand at nearly ever wargames show. He managed that by arranging a collection of chauffeurs, van shares or at worst by train with a suitcase of stock. I found myself in the Chauffeur role 2002-2006 lol
Unfortunately for me, being efficient, Duncan suggested that because I could manage his stand on my own, he'd sign up for the WAB tournament. So for years I ended up running the Wargames Illustrated stand for the 2 days at Derby while he played in the tournament. Why would I do that? Well, I enjoyed it and I met with lots of friends old and new of course, but also Duncan made sure he saw you right in other ways. North Star didn't pay for any adverts in Wargames Illustrated for our first few years for example. It's how he liked to do things, eccentrically.
-
He sounds just like my old wargaming mate of forty years, who we buried last Friday.
:'(
-
Picture the scene..... getting off the DLR at Excel, 11am, the day before Salute.
Bump in Duncan.
"Fancy a coffee?"
"Why not"
Sit down outside the Fox....
"What are the cards for, Jon?"
"It's my birthday"
"We better be having a pint then. It's your round"
Will be having a drink in his memory and, I guess, I'll be paying again.
RIP Dunc
-
Not much one can say
I was looking forward to seeing him there myself.
Funny how everyones recollection involves a pint that costs twice as much as you thought.
I always found him wry in ale where as Jim could get quite dark.
Running out of people to have a pint or coffee with at show's.That never really want anything from you other than a chat.
Last time I saw him at a show .He put his hand on my shoulder and winked saying 'I think you'd like the Ice cream van' and toddle off.( it had beer.)
He knew that I'd need one after the conversation I was currently stuck in.
Mark.
-
RIP Duncan. I never met him but enjoyed WI immensely. Very sorry not to have as he sounds like he was terrifically good value.
Receiving the monthly WI brown envelope when I was living in an isolated posting overseas was always a highlight in any given month and I'll always thank him for that.
-
Hi Folks
We're sending Duncan on his way tomorrow at 11.15am
If you remember, raise a glass to the old boy tomorrow dinner time.
(Leffe Blonde was his favourite tipple)
Nick
-
I hope it goes as well as these things can Nick.
-
When I lived in Harborne the Birmingham show was only 15 minutes walk away. I knew Duncan would travel down by train the day before so offered him accommodation for the night. He graciously accepted. He got up before me and when I went down for breakfast he was watching telly. I asked why he was watching Michaela Strachan and he replied 'what better way to start the day'. Every time I see Michaela on the box I think of him.
Lovely bloke, very sad loss.
John
-
If you remember, raise a glass to the old boy tomorrow dinner time.
Yes, I think I might just do that.
-
Me too
-
Raising a tankard to Dunc at lunchtime today. I didn’t know him as long, or as well, as many, but he was hugely welcoming when I joined Newark Irregulars in the early 90s - I recall being entrusted with a large part of his 25mm Fire and Fury collection during a 16 x 6’ battle that just happened to be going off one night. Dunc was a gentleman gamer who also printed
my first article in Wargames Illustrated magazine. He was an enthusiastic, if irregular, participant in our WAB events that Steve Jones and I used to run in Newark…Andy Hawes recalled one incident where Dunc had failed to get his Scots Irish painted for an Arthurian event, so had somehow slipped some goblins in instead.
Anyway, farewell Duncan. I hope that your Elysian Fields are well stocked with books, dice, beer and good company to match your own.
-
He had an eye for the pretty girls John, even though a confirmed bachelor he had a whole network of female friends.
Those Goblins are still in the Wargames Illustrated figure collection James, I saw them again recently and laughed as I told Dan about how they 'proxied' for Duncs Irish army at your event. The ridiculous thing about that was he was surrounded by friends with Dark Age figures to spare, but no, he had to use these old Hinchcliffe Goblins.
-
Sadly, I met with Duncan on too few occasions and will, now, never get the chance to put this right. When I did have the opportunity to talk to him the conversation, invariably, quickly moved to jazz music which always felt somewhat amusing at wargames shows. Yes, he clearly had an alternative approach to life but that’s what makes people fun and interesting to talk with (and listen to). Our hobby is so much the richer thanks to Duncan and having read the comments above I will ensure tonight I am armed with a bottle of Leffe Blond to drink to his memory and say “thank you”.
-
Jazz.
We didn't know Duncs favourite tracks, but we sent him on his way to this one, I'm sure he'd have approved:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmDDOFXSgAs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmDDOFXSgAs)
-
I’m sure he would have to 👍
-
Jazz.
We didn't know Duncs favourite tracks, but we sent him on his way to this one, I'm sure he'd have approved:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmDDOFXSgAs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmDDOFXSgAs)
Lol on my Monday Morning playlist. :D
-
Just a final note about Duncan. He had amassed a huge Military History library, probably around 3000 books, for Wargames Illustrated.
It was maintained for Duncan's use, but now WI don't want a book collection that size. Caliver Books have taken on the task of selling them for charity, you can get a bit of Duncs collection here: https://www.caliverbooks.com/news.php? (https://www.caliverbooks.com/news.php?)