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JerryD

16-09-2008, 06:23 AM

Dave Monck, one of the founders of the EFTA, BFTA, FFTA, Lea Valley and Broadlands clubs sadly passed away on Sunday 14th.

Details here:

http://www.airgunforum.net/agf/index.php?showtopic=43336

One of the true greats who made this sport as popular as it is today.

peejay

16-09-2008, 07:00 AM

This is a sad loss to all who knew him in the Airgun shooting world, we will miss his enthusiasm, encouragement, help, advice and of course his aparently endless supply of bad jokes which have destroyed anybodys concentration on the shooting line...

Dave was one of a kind.

NeilNewton

16-09-2008, 08:02 AM

Yes, Dave passed away on Sunday in Kings Lynn hospital. Everyone that knew him will know what a sad loss this is for the sport. He was a tireless campaigner for all shooting sports, in particular, airguns. You don't have to look very far to find he was the founder, or deeply involved, with many of the club's in the Eastern regions. I can safely say I speak for all at the Midshires Club when I say he will be sorely missed and is, I believe, irreplacable. As will be his constant jokes and regular "encouragement" to members to observe safety rules...
Dave, if your looking down on us now, just remember there might still be a few people up there who haven't heard some of your stories yet !!.
R.I.P.

Neil

NeilNewton

16-09-2008, 08:05 AM

Yes, Dave passed away on Sunday in Kings Lynn hospital. Everyone that knew him will know what a sad loss this is for the sport. He was a tireless campaigner for all shooting sports, in particular, airguns. You don't have to look very far to find he was the founder, or deeply involved, with many of the club's in the Eastern regions. I can safely say I speak for all at the Midshires Club when I say he will be sorely missed and is, I believe, irreplaceable. As will be his constant jokes and regular "encouragement" to members to observe safety rules...
Dave, if your looking down on us now, just remember there might be a few people up there who haven't heard some of your stories yet !!.
R.I.P.

Neil

peterhuppertz

16-09-2008, 10:07 AM

I heard the news yesterday -- Lynne (his wife) called us. I was shellshocked, though of course not nearly as shellshocked as Lynne.

Dave and I have known each other for 9 years, and during his stay in a Dutch hospital in 2000, where Janny and I visited him most every day, we became close friends with him and Lynne. We visited each other at least once a year, and Dave and Lynne were our best man and bridesmaid when Janny and I got married in Scotland.

Not only was Dave a great storyteller (and indeed adamant on gun safety as well as playing by the rules), but he was also an excellent cook, who could do a mean lamb stew, and he was always happy spending a couple hours in the kitchen (accompanied by a bottle of red wine). He was also a very hospitable guy, who evidently was happy to have us stay with him for a long weekend even though we had only spoken on the phone and exchanged emails. We have never been in England without staying with him for at least a few days - if we would, he would have "spoken to us harshly", as he put it.

But most of all, to me, he was a very generous friend. He knew how to enjoy life, but also how to make life enjoyable for those around him.

In the end, I guess the good news is that he considered each day since April 2000 to be 'extra time' that he got for free - he always assured us that, would he have suffered that aneurysm in England, he would have died. In fact, he was already sort of given up in the hospital in Spijkenisse, but they decided to transfer him to the Erasmus hospital, because of the excellent reputation of Erasmus on cardiovascular wizardry, and because they knew one of the leading specialists on aneurysms worked there. Once in Erasmus, they didn't waste any time and literally dragged him away from the gates of death and disaster - it was that close.
From that moment on, Lynne and David decided to consciously enjoy whatever time they had left.

I find it a comfort that, as Lynne told us, when he went, he went in an instant, without suffering.

Dave sometimes said that he 'needed new friends because he was running out of jokes'. I'm sure he'll find himself a new audience wherever it is he goes - which will no doubt include his good friend Dave Hoare. And when we get there, we'll undoubtely find a nice range -- with a couple nasty downhill 60 yarders and the odd submarine on a tower thrown in.

I'll miss you, Dave -- but it is better to have loved and lost, than to never have known you at all.

Thank you for having been here.

Terry D

16-09-2008, 05:58 PM

Our sport and those that love it have lost a true gentleman, ally and friend.
May Lynne and the family find the strength to help them through this awful time.

R.I.P. Dave, you've certainly earned your rest old son.

BANGALOOR

17-09-2008, 09:31 AM

dave was also secretery of the A.T.E.O, which is where i met him, as has already been said, a true gent, sad loss to the airgun world

RIP Dave.

vic

Skipper

17-09-2008, 07:16 PM

R.I.P Dave.
Always had a story to tell you, and worked tirelessly for promoting airguning!

peakecentral

19-09-2008, 02:45 PM

I only had the pleasure of spending a single day with Dave, but his warmth and humanity was evident, as well as that sense of humour. My heartfelt sympathy to Lynne.

baz

19-09-2008, 05:15 PM

RIP Dave you will be missed by a lot of people, incuding me:(

Bongo351

19-09-2008, 06:15 PM

I have known Dave for nearly 20 years. Just came across the news. My condolances to Lyn. A true airgunning character who will be sorly missed

andrew coleman

19-09-2008, 06:25 PM

So long Dave, you have been a font of knowledge in the few years I have had the privilege to know you. We at Midshires will always remember you with great fondness for your stories and good, if not bad, humour at times.
Hope you give J.C. as much enjoyment as you gave us.

Nemesis

25-09-2008, 07:59 PM

I was very sorry to hear this piece of news. About 20 years ago, when I was running my own FT club, Dave used to ring me up at about 10pm and we'd natter for hours about airgun shooting. Occasionally, I'd get a massive letter, all written in proper fountain pen in a very neat blue script. To say that Dave was active on the airgun scene is a bit of an understatement - very few can have had his sense of true commitment. My condolences to his family.

Gun Collector

28-09-2008, 11:35 AM

Never got to know Dave personally. However my long time, and also departed, buddy, sparring partner, and piller of airgun sport in Scotland, Eric Wallace, knew him very well. It was through him that I became aware of the legend that was Dave Monk. Eric and I would often have one of our (in)famous "debates", and Dave's name would often come up. To have that kind of rep in any sport is something few achieve and is the true benchmark of personal achievement.

As I said, I never got to know him personally... But I know our fine sport has lost another of its pillars.

My thoughts and condolences go out to his family.

Rest well Dave. And if, when you get up there, by some chance your old pal and mine EBW, has managed to hoodwink the guy on the gate and get in there.... Rat on him!

seekay

28-09-2008, 07:34 PM

Only knew Dave for a couple of years but he gave me a lot of advice & encouragement when I started shooting airguns after joining Midshires Marksmen. He worked very hard for the club & anytime there was something on Dave was there. I will miss his jokes, particularly emailed ones which would bring a smile to my face after a bad day at work. A nicer guy you could not wish to meet & I will miss him very much for his friendly manor & unique sense of humour. Went to his funeral & even then he made me smile as the song he chose to be played at the end was Queen "Another one bites the dust". Bless you Dave & R.I.P. mate.

Road Runner

29-09-2008, 09:31 PM

I don't look on the BBS very often these days but I had to come on and post something after seeing this thread. I first met Dave when Graham Dawkins and myself went to the BFTA AGM in 1995 representing SWEFTA. He was BFTA Secretary at that time. We then wrote and emailed etc. over the years even to early this year. He was very helpful when I was writing a history of the sport for the Shooting STARS web site. He was, as said already, a great promoter of airgun sports. He put a tremendous amount of work into the BFTA over the early years. It is a sad occasion and I offer my condolences on to his family and his extended circle of friends.

Keith

airgunner2388

09-10-2008, 10:06 AM

It is always very sad when you read of the passing of anyone who puts a lot of time in to any hobby/sport. I never knew Dave but my thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends.

RIP Dave.

Regards
Barry

mickson

29-03-2009, 04:44 PM