Duncan MacFarlane 1948 - 2021

[nicknorthstar]

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

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.

[AKULA]

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.

 

[Mindenbrush]

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

[TheBlackCrane]

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

[Bowman]

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.

[majorsmith]

Sad news indeed, RIP 

[Vis Bellica]

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.

[has.been]

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.

[Antonio J Carrasco]

Sad news. RIP

[tomrommel1]

Sad news indeed. he influenced my early steps into the hobby. Rest in peace.

[Bloggard]

oh gosh, no great age. My goodness how I enjoyed his mags over the years.

good to hear he was a jazz fan

RIP

[fastolfrus]

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.

[nicknorthstar]

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 

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.

[Harry Faversham]

He sounds just like my old wargaming mate of forty years, who we buried last Friday.

[Dags]

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