Dave Monck

[peterhuppertz]

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]

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]

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]

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

[peakecentral]

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]

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

[andrew coleman]

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.