RIP Del Monte

[Guburnor]

I've just had a PM to let me know Del Monte has passed away, and thought longer term posters here may wish to know.

He joined early on, and after single handedly trying to keep this place going for three years, in 2024 he reasonably decided he'd given it his all after 5000 posts and moved on. His posts on antiques and collectables were by no means of interest to all, but a hell of an effort!!

[knownunknown]

I've just had a PM to let me know Del Monte has passed away, and thought longer term posters here may wish to know.

He joined early on, and after single handedly trying to keep this place going for three years, in 2024 he reasonably decided he'd given it his all after 5000 posts and moved on. His posts on antiques and collectables were by no means of interest to all, but a hell of an effort!!

Was a nice fella. Thoughts with his family.

[Belladonna]

Very sad news. Always kinda strange when a member of a discussion forum passes. If you've never met them off-line, they don't feel quite "real"... and then comes a serious jolt of reality like this.

[quodec]

Yeh, he was on board from the earliest days in 2021 and he always had posts up about this and that. Spotted his valedictory post last year and it felt as if it was the end of the site. Like Isha before him, it was as if a part of the furniture was removed. May he rest in peace.

[Fratello]

I met him last year as I was passing through Enniscourthy. We had a nice chat over lunch. He was still interested in news on railway preservation. I'm sad now that that I can't meet him again.

[BrianD3]

RIP Del.Monte and condolences to his family and friends. I had conversed with him via PM and knew his real name. He didn't look very old in photos I've seen online.

Obviously a huge contributor to this site and he was a big poster on boards too, especially on transport and trains IIRC. Using the same username and think he was Judgment Day on there too?

[NewBroom]

That's sad to hear, I knew he lived in the SE as he often commented on issues there I'd come across. There was a long running thread on boards re the demise of Enniscorthy and small shops that he often wrote about. Always interesting.

[kadman]

Very interesting guy and very passionate when it came to all things railway related.RIP.

[jmcc]

Sad news. RIP Del Monte and condolences to his family and friends.

[John]

Cause of death ?

[Return of the Mac]

An excellent poster, who did Trojan work keeping this site going during more leaner times. With the increase in activity I had hoped to see him back. But sadly that now will never happen. My condolences to his family and friends.

[Dubit10]

Just read back on a few of his posts very level headed genuine guy. R.I.P.

[marhay70]

Very sad to hear this, Del and I were kindred spirits on many subjects, and I was sorry to see him leave both here and Boards.He got a lot of stick from those on both forums, the shouty types, who can't be bothered to engage in rational debate. R.I.P., Del.

[Guburnor]

Seems timely to repost his last post here:

Shortly after joining GUBU in July 2021 I made contact with a number of the main posters to see if they were here for the long haul or what - i.e. was it worth while putting in the effort required to make the forum a success. The answer at that time was yes but, sadly, since then many have left for various reasons and those that remain rarely post any more. Membership of the forum has never reached the critical mass necessary for a broad range of topics to be discussed and instead we go round and round on the same topical issues - Covid - Trump - Ukraine - Gaza - Covid - Trump... and it has become terribly wearing! It seems to be a combination of factors with the vast bulk of people seemingly more interested in a rubbish platforms like Facebook/Twitter/Snapchat etc. than having a proper discussion on a message forum.

I just don't get it but then I am an old school dinosaur that has been active since the 1970s writing to newspapers since before I left school, publishing newsletters, running voluntary societies etc.etc. I believe that we only pass this way but once and are obliged to make the most of it but clearly that is a minority view and Facebook likes are the most important thing in life. I'm afraid, to paraphrase Monty Python, "this forum wouldn't Voom if you put 4 million volts through it." and so I take my leave of you - best of luck to everyone - Del Monte has left the building.

[Avey Terrible]

Damn, he will be missed. RIP

[Glaceon]

Very sad to hear this. I would have known of him through his involvement with the GSRPS back in the day. He bought the old signal box at Abbeydorney station when the line was abandoned but it never came to fruition.

[Fratello]

He was writing a book for years about the Mallow years and the GSRPS and how CIE ruined the project. He would not have held back. I don't know how far he got.
To be honest I was expecting him to reappear here any day now given the site's new found energy.

[Apelles]

That is indeed sad news to come on here and see. RIP Del. A man of principle.