Gordon Stolliday

[AY Mod]

As reported here https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/3422-eastwood-town-you-wait-ages-for-one-then-two-come-along/&do=findComment&comment=4508403 we have had news today that Gordon S of RMweb has passed away after becoming ill later last year.

 

Gordon was one of the earliest members of RMweb over 15 years ago and it has been my pleasure to have known him for the duration and to have met and chatted several times at member events. He was a gent of remarkable kindness, never did he speak ill of anyone nor did anyone ever have any reason to fall out with him; but it went beyond that and Gordon helped many people and entertained even more with his trials, persistence and achievements with his layout, Eastwood Town. Gordon also took assistance from others and went on his way to turn advice into excellent modelling and show that he was an extremely competent modeller.

 

I made comment a few days ago in his Eastwood Town topic that everyone who uses RMweb owes a debt of gratitude to Gordon; when the costs of running the site were going beyond what I could afford Gordon, completely unsolicited, approached me to make an offer to help support the running costs. I wouldn't put that burden onto someone's kindness but it did spur me on to look at fundraising efforts to cover the running costs more widely; something which I would have been unlikely to do had Gordon not made his case - the easiest thing to do would have been to pull the shutters down but Gordon wouldn't have given up would he? And so here we all are; still.

 

Thank you Gordon; it has been a pleasure to know you and you certainly won't be forgotten. You made many friends here as I'm sure you did through the whole of your life.

 

Rest in Peace.

 

[t-b-g]

I don't recall if I ever met Gordon and spoke with him face to face but I have always enjoyed seeing his modelling on RMWeb and I greatly admired his approach to the hobby.

 

That is very sad news. We have lost another good one.

 

 

[Oldddudders]

What a horrid shock! Gordon had been one of the pillars of RMweb since I joined more than a decade ago. We never met but he was one of several people who were online for a Zoom organised by Barry O a while back. Gordon specialised in beautiful track, and he was forever fighting a battle with heron fishing his pond. His writings were humorous and self-deprecating. As Andy Y has said, he came across as a lovely man. 

 

I am very saddened. 

[Rowsley17D]

As I have said on his thread, it was Gordon who mainly got me into Templot and making my own turnouts. Without his help and support I could not have built my latest layout. We corresponded latterly through PMs when I was about to undergo cancer surgery at the same time as his last operation. He was full of support and kindness. Another true gent gone far too soon. I hope his turnouts, engines and buildings find a worthy home were his memory will live on. Rest in peace, Gordon and rise in glory. 

Edited July 13, 2021 by Rowsley17D

[New Haven Neil]

Gutted.  He was a smashing man, always ready to help.  We would compare Koi notes as well as railways.

 

My deepest condolences to his family.

 

So sad.

[PMP]

I met Gordon once, at 2009? Members day where he booked a appointment to learn weathering technique with myself. Like many he’d bought the gear (airbrush/compressor) but never got round to using it, and was a little phased by it. He brought a coach with him and in a very short space of time he’d got the grasp of the techniques including cleaning/masking and using washes and powders to a very good standard. He was a fast and obviously able learner, his results of weathering his own locomotives later on showed he’d really nailed it and it was a real pleasure to see how well he’d mastered the mediums. 
His Eastwood town thread follows a similar story in a way, through it you can see his journey and how he’d learnt and adapted techniques, and how he generously shared them back. Today he ‘taught’ me something, I found a piece he’d written that was a eureka moment for me, and means a project of mine that had temporarily stalled can likely restart. His thread is an absolute treasure of information, and inspiring, there is much to learn within it, not least the quiet determination and good nature of Gordon’s approach to  working through the trials of the hobby to get where he wanted, and needed to get to, with the many iterations of the Eastwood layout.

 

My sympathies to his family and friends, he will undoubtedly be missed.

RIP

[NGT6 1315]

Having joined RMweb several years later than he had, I didn’t have the chance of meeting Gordon in person, but from how I got to know him through his contributions as time went on, I concur that he was one of those characters who made these forums what they are. Hearing about his illness and now his passing has saddened me deeply.

 

Here‘s to you and yours, Gordon. Wherever you may be now, I hope you’re at peace.

[Tony Wright]

What sad news.

 

My condolences to his family. 

 

I met him on a couple of occasions at the Southampton Show, and what a lovely, generous man. 

 

As I noted on Wright writes some months ago, he donated a J50 model for me to complete, and sell for CRUK. This I've done, and the new owner will have a tribute to a wonderful man, since most of the work was Gordon's. 

 

RIP. Another kind person passing from this hobby.................

[The Stationmaster]

Gordon was above all else a nice bloke and kind in taking time to offer his knowledge and advice and, on one occasion, a laugh from him at one of my photos of a heron on somebody else's roof eyeing up a garden pond.  It was great to see him again, after quite a long while since our paths had last crossed, on the Zoom get together organised by Baz which Olddudders metioned earlier.  A sad loss but apart from a memory of such a gent and a nice guy I can also treasure a piece of his trackwork in the shape of a single slip he gave to me some time back.

 

RIP Gordon, I'm so sorry to hear that you've left us at the end of your long fight.

[Captain Kernow]

I also met Gordon on the occasions that he visited the Taunton Members days and I can only agree with those sentiments describing him as a lovely, kind and generous chap. I also have a piece of pointwork made by him, a Barry slip, which I will find a use for in due course.

 

My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

 

[Flying Pig]

Very sad to hear this.  Gordon and his travails on Eastwood Town have been around for ever and it's a bit of a shock to learn that won't continue.

[beast66606]

I'm very shocked and saddened to hear of Gordons passing, I never met Gordon in person but he messaged me to offer supprt and gave me some motivational chats a few years back when some of the .....ers were stirring up sh1t about me - a great bloke who will be sadly missed.

 

RIP Gordon

[Barry O]

One of the nicest people ... unfortunately I only ever met him in the Early Risers zoom meeting. We kept trying to meet but various things including the pandemic got in the way.

 

I did a couple of repais on two locos of his.. a DJH Std 4MT Mogul and an N2. One needed new pick ups, the other a new gearbox. He asked me add  some weathering.. which I didn't as his weathering was very good..not overly done in any way.

 

I asked for the postage costs only.. but he did a money transferwith more than that in it as I had been too generous with my time"

An absolute Gent in every way. We will miss himas will his family and friends.

 

RIP Gordon.. score lots of holes in one and keep "testing the layout and stock"

Baz

[Andrew P]

As I mentioned in ET, I never met Gordon, but when I started Point making for my Bitton Project he was one of the first to offer advice, guidance and encouragement. Finally when I decided that true scale prototype modelling was not for me, he was both supportive and encouraged me to follow a path that I would enjoy rather than be a burden.

I do hope that ET will live on in some form as a tribute to a fine Track builder and a true gentleman.

 

Condolences to his Family and friends.

 

RIP Gordon S.

[AY Mod]

In case anyone misses it in the Eastwood Town topic:

 

  

16 hours ago, BoD said:

Gordon’s family have arranged online streaming of the funeral and a webpage for donations details of which some of you have asked for.  Here is their message including the details…

 

For those of you unable to attend the service in person, it will be available to watch live online. You will be able to login to the website at any time to view a Test Webcast which we recommend you do in plenty of time before the service to ensure it’s all working ok for you.

 

Please see below for the log in details:

 

Website: https://www.obitus.com/   
Username: kuxo8832 
Password: 848930 
Service Date: Wednesday 4th August 
Service Time: 11:30am BST

Viewing available from: 11:25am

 

We have set up a tribute page online which includes all details for the funeral, but also information about where we would like donations to go to in memory of Gordon, and how to donate. The site also serves as a place for people to post their own photos and thoughts of Gordon, so please do take a look and add anything you would like to share. We’d love to see them.

 

Tribute site: https://gordonstolliday.muchloved.com

 

[Pete the Elaner]

I've only just been told about Gordon's passing.

I met him at least once (probably more). Good modeller & friendly person.

RIP