"Don Featherstone Passes" Topic

Don Featherstone passes, sad news from Christopher Scott in England (quote): I am sorry to be the bearer of sad news but I have just heard that Don Featherstone passed away. I saw him a few weeks ago for one of his military dining club dinners and he was in good spirits but very frail. Unfortunately he had a fall and was discovered collapsed by a neighbour. He was taken into Southampton hospital and had been there a while but his general conditioned deteriorated. I have no other details only that he died yesterday. As I said I am so sorry to have to give you this news but thought you'd like to know.

Regards, Colonel Bill

I am sad to hear that. His books, along with Charles Grant's, were part of my first introduction to this hobby.

RIP Sir, and thank you.

One of the giants on whose shoulders we stand and play with our little soldiers.
Thank you,Sir.

Truly a sad day for all of us. I was fortunate enough to meet Don and chat with him briefly at Historicon about 10 years or so ago (introduced to him by Jim Getz, no less!) He was 80+ years old at the time and said it would be his last trip across "the pond" due to his advancing age. I still have a bunch of copies of The Wargamer's Newsletter from the late 1960's and early 1970's.

Hopefully St. Peter can arrange some games with Don, Jack Scruby, Charlie Sweet, and H.G. Wells… among others!

I Had the good fortune of meeting him at Historicon. He Gave a wonderful talk about how games are games and war is war. He was a true gentlemen and may he rest in peace.

I never had the privilege of meeting him in person but I was fortunate enough to have a phone conversation with him once. I was able to purchase his file on the Anglo-Persian War of 1857 (one of my treasured possessions). The hobby as a whole owes him so much.

It was thanks to Donald Featherstone that I am a wargamer, which started after I borrowed one of his books from the library.

May he rest in peace.

I'm with shelldrake--my first wargaming books were Featherstone! Rest in peace!

A true pioneer.

Me too – Wargames Through the Ages 3000 BC to 1500 AD. Thank you Sir.

May he RIP.

I read War Games when I was 12 and it all started from there.

Glad to have met him once. Made a lasting impression on me.

DM

Very sad.:(

One of the wargaming pioneers, and one of the greats to boot!

A World War 2 veteran, and father to a Policeman who was killed in the line of duty – like Father like Son…

Thanks Don, for your Service, and for your immense contribution to Wargaming. We are all diminished by your passing.

Rest in Peace thy Good and Faithful Servant.

I'm so glad to hear he was in the care of the fine people at Southampton General, they are stars so we can be sure they made his last moments as comfortable as possible…

I'm very sorry to hear that.

I've enjoyed his books and rules.

Rest in Peace.

As with others, it was discovering his books at the local library that was my introduction to wargaming.

Thank you, Mr. Featherstone. Go in Grace, sir.

'Battles with Model Soldiers' was my first inspiration, and still sits in pride of place on my bookshelf.

If it wasn't for his books igniting and sustaining the initial spark, I am sure my interest would have fizzled out early and I would have missed out on many rewarding years in this hobby.

Luckily got to meet him several times, and he bought me a copy of one of his books as a present. An absolutely lovely chap. One of the times I felt privileged to meet an influence.

Nic Eureka Miniatures

A very inspirational man!! Rest in peace, Mr. Featherstone.

Sad to see him leave us. He contributed so much to our hobby.

RIP sir.

As a child, I would look through the library's copies of his books. This fed the flame that is my passion for wargaming. He will be missed, his contributions will not be forgotten.

RIP

Thanks Don for everything

Be at peace

Thank you Mr. Featherstone. You will be remembered fondly for your contributions and your enthusiasm for the hobby.

Battles with model soldiers is the 1st wargaming book I ever bought. Still have it, along with others.

Rest in Peace Mr. Featherstone. You brought joy and entertainment to many a young and old boy.

I think we all agree, he grandfathered many of us into the hobby. Sad to hear this news and hope he can find a good game on the other side.

Truly a sad day.

I have enjoyed his "Campaigning with the Duke of Wellington & Featherstone." A sad day indeed. What a loss.

I was very pleased to meet him some year ago at Historicon. He was a delightful gentlemen and properly attired in khaki for his time in the Colonies. The book he signed for me is one of my treasures. May he rest in peace.

Thank you and rest in peace.

In sympathy.

He will be sorely missed. Truly one of the cornerstones of this hobby and its proliferation outside of the U.K. He along with Jack Scruby of the U.S. are probably the main reasons we game historical miniatures today. There were certainly many others but these two were giants. Pax vobiscum…

He will be sorely missed. Truly one of the cornerstones of this hobby and its proliferation outside of the U.K. He along
with Jack Scruby of the U.S. are probably the main reasons we
game historical miniatures today. There were certainly many others but these two were giants. Pax vobiscum…

Thank you Mr. Featherstone. May you find peace in the Fields.

We all pay tribute to him. May he either rest in peace or play in wargaming heaven. A remarkable man.

One more star is added to the celestial lights of this hobby.

Dave

"Through mud and blood to the green fields beyond."

The man who kindled the spark for me via Dewsbury Library in 1971.

Rest in Peace.

I'm happy to know that he and Jack Scruby will finally be able to "get together" for a game. My condolences to his family and friends. He is a giant upon whose shoulders the rest of us stand. Of course, he will also get to rejoin with his son who died much too young. Mr. Featherstone's eulogy of his son was one of the most moving pieces of writing I've ever seen in this hobby.

This is sad to hear. But let's not forget – Although we know the hobby is that much poorer for his passing, we are all so greatly enriched by what he left behind.

A friendly gentleman every time we met.. God bless him.

RIP

I roll the dice in his honor….

RIP

By all accounts a genuinely decent and honorable human being on so many levels, Donald Featherstone remains a legend IMHO, I would assert he was one of the very real Founders of our hobby and the community that supports it.

God rest his splendid soul.

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

RIP Sir.

In 1975 I found out he lived literally 5 mins round the corner from me. I couldn't decide if I should phone him or knock on his door. I spent weeks building up the courage and finally phoned him and he spent a good 30 mins talking to this 13 year old and giving me tips and encouragement. A real gentleman, it is a very sad day for the hobby.

Thanks Sir, and rest in peace

Very, very sad. Founder of my wargames club. Sadly, never met the man but I've never heard anyone who did have a bad word for him.

RIP Don.

Very sad news. He was major influence on my young wargaming self through his books. A brave man who served his nation well and gave a huge amount of inspirition to an entire generation of wargamers.

I only just heard this,Iam so sad, his books and ideas made my wargames and what Iam today….

RIP a great man

During the early nineties, I was completely absorbed by fantasy wargaming – and didn't know anything else existed outside of GW. I then heard Don Featherstone give a talk about historical wargaming during a convention I was attending and where he was the guest of honor. That talk opened for me a whole new wargaming universe.