I know not everyone reads every thread on here, so I wanted to break this out, just in case.
The Art Comp this month was for Strontium Dog-based art tributes, or text of
any kind, to the much-missed Bolt-01 (Dave Evans) and, as I said on there:
QuoteAt the end of the month, I'd like to gather everything together and see if we can't get a printed collection made up that I'm hoping some kind soul will forward to Dave's family. I can't imagine what they're going through, but I thought it might be nice for them to have some permanent record of how well-loved Dave was here.
With hindsight, using the Art Comp thread for submissions might have caused some people to overlook it, and I don't want anyone to miss out, hence this separate post.
The ostensible deadline for submissions is the end of the month, but I still have some contributions to come via email so I won't be thinking about making a start for at least another week.
Many of you have said some wonderful things over on the RIP thread, too, but I don't want to go harvesting quotes from people without their explicit permission. At the same time, as I say, I don't want people to feel they've missed out when they would have liked to contribute.
If you posted on the RIP thread and would like your words including in the book, then just say so here and I'll take that as permission to quote you from the other thread. If you want to post some specific text here, then please feel free.
If you feel like you don't have any words, but would like to express condolences anyway, then I'm open to the idea of a page of general sympathy/condolence with a list of names. If you'd like to be included in that, then, again, you can post here to that effect.
Please add me to any list, and well done Jim for organising this.
Thanks, Huff.
On that note, it occurs to me that if you'd like to listed on a condolences page, how would you (and anyone else who adds their name here) like to be listed? Just FORUM NAME or REAL NAME (FORUM NAME) or FORUM NAME (REAL NAME) or just REAL NAME...?
I posted in the RIP thread and am happy to be quoted and/or listed on a condolences page. Thank you so much for organising. I'm fine to go by forum name for me.
Thanks for sorting this Jim - I'm sure it will be a comfort to Dave's family to know how well regarded he was in this community. I was going to include a tribute to Dave in the next Letter review column as he was a 10 plus man, but alas no letters have been printed since his passing. I'll draft something up that I can paste in when Tharg finally gets around to printing some letters again and post it here. His family should know of all his great works!
Here we go. I've added this to the Lettersentertainyou thread so that it is preserved there also. Of course feel free to edit as you see fit Jim. Culling it to a dozen words would seem reasonable! Cheers.
It was a sad day at Beast Towers when we learned of the passing of Dave 'Bolt-01' Evans or 'EEE' as he was known on the database.
Dave was in with the DNA of The Letters Beast Database and was part of the initial conception and of the first draft of the project, which eventually catalogued every piece of reader content in our favourite comics. He volunteered to take a batch of 100 Progs and add the details of all letter writers and drawing providers to a spreadsheet that could be plugged into the monster that became the database of all 2000ad reader content published in 2000ad and the Judge Dredd Megazine.
He didn't have to get involved; he was busy with a multitude of other projects, but something about the idea tickled him and appealed to his nerdy fan instincts. His contributions were however greater than some admin work, Dave was a celebrated letter writer in his own right, attaining the lofty rank of 29th= on the all-time list, with his score of 12 letters printed.
His dozen letters appeared in the years between 2002 and 2008, with 9 gracing the Prog and 3 in the Megazine. He was first sighted in Prog 1316 and followed this up with the Letter of the Week in 2003's Prog 1365. He first appearance in the Megazine was in Meg 251 in 2006 and he had follow up appearances in Megs 259 and 274.
2004 saw two letters in Progs 1383 and 1391 from the Birmingham wordsmith before a single appearance was made in 2006, in Prog 1501. Better was to follow in the next two years when Dave saw 4 letters see print in 2007/08 in Progs 1527, 1547, 1574 and 1592.
12 letters in 7 years is a good hit rate and, had he persevered, he could have been a top ten letter writer. Dave however moved on to other things - creating comics, encouraging writers and artists and rearing his loving family. We're sure it was a tough choice, but probably the correct one!
We have raised a glass to Dave many times and will continue to do so. As long as letters are printed Dave will be remembered as a creator of and as contributor to the 2000ad and Megazine Letters Database or 'The Beast' as it is commonly known. Round these parts anyway.
Rest easy Dave, your writing is done and you will not be forgotten.
This should link to the full size image that I did, hope that helps Jim.
Thanks for doing this.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZlWAR9J.jpg)
Feel free to use my tribute Jim. Kudos to you mate for doing this for Dave.
Others have said everything possible in a way much better than I could phrase. Please add my name to the page of condolence.
I would be grateful to be included on the condolences page as well please. Thanks for organising this.
You can use anything I said in the original announcement thread.
I'm happy for you to quote my words of condolence, Jim.
My real name (if required) is on my Twitter.
Cheers
Good idea Jim. Please add me to the list of condolences.
Thanks for organising.
Thanks Jim. I'm happy to be quoted with anything I said in either thread, would would glad to be added to a condolences list and I've got no specific preference for username/ real name/ both- whatever seems appropriate is fine with me.
I just would like to pass on my condolences to his family and friends, Dave was always so helpful and so enthusiastic about comics. A huge loss.
David
Could you add my name(s) to the condolence page too please, Jim. Thanks.
I'd just like to add my thanks to you, Jim, for organising this wonderful tribute. I know I've already contributed a picture but, if I may, I'd also like to add the following to the general tributes page:
On my journey through this life I have come to understand that the reason why there are so many of us is because we need to be kind to one another and because we need to help one another, for we are all beings of infinite worth and potential.
Of all the souls I have encountered on my journey, none personified this belief more than Bolt-01. In his passing we are faced with an incalculable loss, but in our hearts the candles lit by Dave Evans will never sputter or grow dim.
He showed us all how to be better.
With love everlasting,
Mark "the Shark" Howard.
There's some really great touching stuff on that thread. It's a measure of the man indeed.
Just to add my thanks to Jim for organising this and to say should you want to include anything I've said you're more than welcome.
More than happy to have my post from the other thread quoted.
Regards,
Robin
Thank you, Jim
Huge condolences to Dave's family. Lisa and myself first met Dave at Bristol in 2007 and since then catching up with him has been the highlight of attending cons.
I think Lisa summed it up perfectly - He gave the best hugs.
Lisa & Matthew
Bit out of the loop and just hearing about this now.
Only had limited interactions with Dave (through the fanzine scene and meeting him at the Dredd movie screening), but he was one of the good ones. RIP mate.
So sorry to hear this news, my most sincere condolences to Dave's family and friends. He enabled so many creators to achieve their first published work, was a thoroughly decent bloke, and so obviously liked and loved by so many people. He will be sadly missed. RIP Dave.
Hey Jim, please add this from me:
Seemed an OK guy. For a geek.
- King Trout
Hi Jim. I hope I'm not too late, and thanks for organising this. Please domuse what I said in the other thread.
Grud, I've been flat out, and neglecting the board a bit so I'm probably way too late, but if not could you please add my name to the list of condolences? Thank you!
Of course, JBC.
I was meaning to post a quick update this week, just to let folks know what's happening with this.
It's Dave's funeral at the end of next week. I'm going to start pulling the book together over the coming week, with a view to getting it printed up and sent off to Dave's family after the funeral, so we'll call Monday 28th the absolute last call for anything anyone wants to get in. I'll update the art thread with this same info.
Quote from: JayzusB.Christ on 17 June, 2021, 08:49:39 AM
Grud, I've been flat out, and neglecting the board a bit so I'm probably way too late, but if not could you please add my name to the list of condolences? Thank you!
Ditto for me.
Cheers Jim.
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 17 June, 2021, 09:03:40 AM
Of course, JBC.
I was meaning to post a quick update this week, just to let folks know what's happening with this.
It's Dave's funeral at the end of next week. I'm going to start pulling the book together over the coming week, with a view to getting it printed up and sent off to Dave's family after the funeral, so we'll call Monday 28th the absolute last call for anything anyone wants to get in. I'll update the art thread with this same info.
Thanks, Jim. Seeing as we have a wee bit of time left I'll try and get a bit of artwork done.