BlackRat
-
Posts
3,209 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
6
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Blogs
Gallery
Events
Exhibition Layout Details
Store
Status Replies posted by BlackRat
-
Hello, Mal's wife Gabe here.
Really very sorry for being the bearer of the worst news, but Mal died on Monday 18 March at 9.40pm. His children Cat, Fin and I and his best friend (my brother Vic) were all with him, here at our new home in Ancrum Bank. It was so very tranquil. So tranquil in fact that it took me and Fin ten minutes to be absolutely sure Mal really wasn't breathing, he looked so serene and calm. But he was definitely ready to go. All medical and caring staff said how content he looked, wrapped comfortably in all the warm wishes of all those who loved him, from both near and far.
A celebration of his life will be held at Mortonhall Crematorium, Edinburgh on
Thursday 28 March at 12 noon to which all are warmly invited.
I've been working hard all week getting his funeral arrangements sorted and his celebrant, Onie Tibbitt, is keen to get close friends to share the funny things he said or did that exemplified the kind of man he was. You guys were a massive part of his life. He was very close to you. Many is the time he would leave your forum with a moist eye telling me some sad news, or, much more often, with a chuckle. Sadly, you are the guys with whom I have least connection as I have never met or spoken, or indeed communicated in any meaningful way with any of you apart from the briefest of updates while Mal was in Basingstoke after his major op in February last year.
You guys may have been a facet of his life which was an entire mystery to me but now it is time to unveil the mystery. It is clear, as Onie and I have pored over Mal's lifetime, that the theme of Railways surfaces time and time again as a major focus in his life. Apart from your friendships, I would love to receive sentence or two from you guys explaining the significance of trains in general and RM in particular to Mal.
It is one of my biggest regrets that Mal never achieved his long-held ambition to set up his own model railway here in our new home. Who knows, in the fullness of time, I may even pick up that challenge, but don't hold your breath or you may turn blue and keel over and I've had more than enough of that thank you.
If any of you would like to contribute your thoughts, Onie is happy to get in touch with you for a chat, or you could email her anecdotes of funny things he said, or things he did which seemed to exemplify his character, before 5pm Monday 25th March so she can start compiling a tribute in good time. Onie's email address is celebrant@onietibbit.com, so feel free to email her direct, or if you would rather chat, let her know and she can arrange a convenient time.
And in case you don't know it already, our new address is 1 Ancrum Bank, Dalkeith, Midlothian, EH22 3AY, tel 0131 660 1609. My mobile is 07563557310. I’ll be shutting Malcolm’s email and phone contracts down at some point, so remember to delete him from your contacts list, but feel free to please add me if you wish ;-)
I know you will understand that I have my hands full. So please don't be overly concerned if I don't acknowledge any replies on the forum for a couple of days. Once I can stop juggling balls while unicycling, and once things start to feel a bit more settled, if it is not too presumptuous, I look forward to logging in and maybe getting to know you guys a wee bit.
Gabe
-
Tho we never met, Mal always came across as one of natures true gentlemen.
Its difficult to find words at a time like this, but this evening Mal will be in my thoughts.
Even tho he had his own severe difficulties to deal with, he was there to support myself and others, with kind and supportive words.
Early rises is a difficult forum to explain.
People who have never met, have found friendship through a common interest in railways, real and imaginary.
Unlike many such threads, there is no falling out, no harsh words, threats or deeds, merely thoughts, friendship and indeed love for one another and thoughts and support through difficult times.
Mal was exemplary is his thoughts and support to others, and in a recent conversation his thoughts were not with his own fate, but that of concern for others.
My sincere condolences to all of Mals family and friends.
All on Earlyrisers, and RMWeb will miss him.
Yours aye, Neil.
-
-
Where's Horsetan then?!?!
-
Where's Horsetan then?!?!
-
17 years ago today I was on Newport station photographing trains - I can still remember the phone call to tell of the events unfolding in New York
-
Ummmm £1500 need a bike! ZZR 600 or ZX6R that is the question!
-
Blimey.....just when you thought you had dumped all those old mags........first 50 odd MRJ's lurking in the garage!
-
I'll tell you what's wrong with TV in the day time - take 'Homes under the hammer' - now showing Series NINETEEN, and it's Episode FIFTY FIVE! Why, for goodness sake?
-
FFS i sometimes don’t know why I bother...
-
Hmmmm, a thread with no replies, a user with only 1 post, and it's been locked! There's got to be a back story there to wallow in someone else's misery.
-
Has been enjoying the unexpected Snow Day by watching O Gauge ex GWR locos on Youtube - gosh it's tempting!
-
is suffering TV withdrawal symptoms. #winter sports nut who is too old to ski anymore...well maybe one more time!
-
is sorting out some Ultrascales. Getting there slowly. #eightmonths
-
Have you noticed how many F1 drivers have names linked to Scotland ? Stirling Moss, Lewis Hamilton, Eddie Irvine and Ayr Town centre.
-
Why does the post editor work so badly on an iPad?
-
This mouse he got lonesome, he took him a wife A windmill with mice in, it's hardly surprisin' She sang every morning, "How lucky I am, Living in a windmill in old Amsterdam!"
-
If there is a greater being who has any control over anything could I just ask for a day without an idiot in it please? You sent me six yesterday, surely some mistake?
-
I wish I trusted the Internet enough and knew how to book airline tickets on line. Just bought some via a travel agent and suspect I have paid over the odds.
-
Why is Tornado discussed in Preservation? It is not preserved.
-
just under 2 years ago my brother was told he had a rare type of cancer for his age (under 30) we have spent that time hopping one of the trial drugs would work then on Sunday night he was ill from his chemo so he went to hospital we have now found out that it has got much worse not much time left for him. thing were looking better last night but this morning he has taken a step backward.
-
Conceptually, darling, it can't be Art, yet aesthetically, it can only be thus.
-
Dilemma... faithfully reproduce the track plan but have to extend the baseboards by 2 inches width, or drop one of three sidings and fit in the boards I have already made?
