"Don Featherstone Passes" Topic

I was at Connections (UK)- a conference of professional military wargamers when I heard the news. They asked me and Phil Barker to say a few words. Don was of great importance in the early development of military wargames. I greatly enjoyed working with him over the last decade.

Wherever he has gone I hope they play wargames there, in a gentlemanly manner of course, RIP Donald.

His books are in my library. His presence in my games. My regards to an unmet friend…
HBH

Reading 'Naval War Games'at the age of nine was my introduction to the hobby. It is still my favourite Wargame book!

I never met Don Featherstone. By all accounts I would not have been disappointed had I done so. His books played a major role in shaping my interests in life. For that alone, thank you Mr Featherstone.

Rest well.

Living in the Southampton area I was lucky enough to meet Don when he was having a clear out sale at his house many, many years ago. Still have all those books he kindly signed for me.
As many have already said, a true gentleman and inspiration.

RIP Don and "Good Wargaming!"

it is a sad day for war gaming he got so many of us into this great hobby

I began wargaming in my mid twenties during the 70's while stationed in Greece. Don, Grant and later Bruce Quarrie launched me into a long, long hobby. I have many of their books on my shelf. God Bless…

Paul/Texas

So long Don and thanks for helping get me into the hobby.

Save us a place at the Table!!!

think of all those 20mm figures now waiting for us in heaven. as well as heaps and gobs of 30mm,, spencers.

We played our Don Featherstone memorial game last night – what else but `Action in the Plattville Valley'? We played using the same size forces, and using only the original eules – which caused occasional astonishment! As the only player there who had ever played Don's rules, I was able to point out that Warhammer is only Don's ancient rules with a couple of trivial amendments, and that without Don, modern wargaming would not exist as we recognize it.

Oh – and, just as in the original, the Union forces won convincingly.

RIP

Another great gone….there must be a hellofa game in Heaven

If I let myself get going on the subject of Don Featherstone I might not get any sleep tonight.

A week ago Sunday at HURRICON I was supposed to read an unpublished letter from Don as part of a Memorial Service. I had but few handy from his fading years. But it struck me that when he was my age and started travelling over here he seemed to have kept, in a retrievable fashion, all of his correspondence with his American fans, and could produce a laugh anywhere by remembering some tale the authors had forgotten. He remembered things we had written him about the earliest MFCA Wargame Conventions.

But his first visit to the former colonies did not come until GENCON ORIGINS 88. Working on volume II of my Unexpurgated History of HMGS I contacted Todd Fisher, who was close to the negotiations for the inside story. Apparently he (Todd) was asked who should be the HM Gaming Guest of Honor, and he in turn referred the issue to Hal Thinglum (MWAN.) At that time he was a young man of 70. He and Don had a lifetime mutual admiration society. It is reflected in the similar folksy style of their newsletters.

Hal did not expect TSR to spring for the visit, but they did. And though Don had been in correspondence with dozens of us over the years, he had not imagined the response he would get.

When Hal belatedly received the SCRUBY AWARD Don sent me a letter to read at the ceremony since he was no longer travelling.

As many of you know, Don was a frequent guest not only at HISTORICON but many other chapters conventions.

In one of Chris Scott's messages on Don's passing he mentioned seeing a large number of award posted in Don's house and asking why so many were American?

Don's reply, half in jest (he was not altogether a prophet without honor in his own country) was:

"Oh, I'm not that well known over here."