Tim Wale, one of the guys who I started out in re-enacting with died last week. he was buried in a non religious ceremony on Tuesday 30th May.
Tim had been ill for a long time. His illness debilitated him to the point where he didn't feel up to visitors and so we had seen nothing of him for a long time. His family cared for him until the end and I can only begin to imagine the heartache and pain they are left with.
He was, in his own terminology, a bounder! He was a proper character and whenever he was around all you did was laugh. Those who knew Tim will remember the mad japes he got up to. This was old school re-enacting with none of the fancy uniforms of today, a mish mash of kit and sacks full of enthusiasm. Trips to France and Germany were frequent with battlefield visits and stunts galore. Too many to mention on here....
He was an inveterate vehicle collector - Jimmys, Ferrets, Champs, Mungas, Trekkers, DKWs, combis..... all sorts! And he knew how to use them. I recall one event at Bolsover in 1999 when egg jousting was invented.... Two combis riding full tilt at each other with the occupants hurling eggs at the opponent to score points in some wild, ad hoc game with ever changing rules and lots of cheating..... we laughed until we were sick.....
Here is Tim at that Tournament Piloting his machine with Mickey Rolfe hanging on for dear life.... and all of us peeing ourselves - I was in the sidecar of the opposing machine.... Boy did I bring up a bruise on Timbo's leg with a raw egg! Here is how I want to remember him. Laughing, Mad as a bucket of frogs and full of life.
Tim was 31. We pass this way but once.... So let's cause as much bloody mayhem as possible doing it!
Laugh? we never stopped when he was around! He was bloody brilliant - and so understated.
