"Brian Hicks - RIP" Topic

A long time member of Leeds Wargames Club, Brian lost his fight with cancer this morning at 09:15 UK time. His name might not be familiar, but anyone who has attended the Derby, Sheffield Triples, Fiasco and Battlegroup North Elvington shows over the last 20 years will have seen his work. Brian was responsible for building most of the Club's mega games, from Granville in 2001 through Rotterdam in 20mm, St Nazaire in 10mm, and the attack on the Bismarck also in 10mm amongst others. There games occupied 20+ feet on average and featured much hand built terrain. Brian could turn odds and ends, cereal packets and foam insulation into works of art, all the more impressive because for much oath the time he was in full time work with a 3 to 4 hour commute. He is a great loss to the club and to the hobby in general.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Condolences to your group and his family

Sad news.

Sorry to hear such sad news. My condolences to his family and friends.

Perhaps there are links to the works he did with friends?

Nice tribute for us that did not know him to admire him and his deeds.

Jonathan

There are some photos on the Leeds Wargames Club public Facebook page, link below.

link

Yes, nice tribute and thanks for sharing his brilliant work.

Brian introduced me to who later became known as the Ilkley Lads. He was one of the most enthusiastic wargaming friends I've ever met.

He loved wargaming, and he loved making things. Who can forget his many WW2 ships that did the rounds of UK shows?

What many passers by would not appreciate, is the fact that his work, largely in 10mm (including Bismark if memory serves), was very largely built from scratch. The bulk of the body work for his ships was made using breakfast cereal packets – I remember well the multiple Rice Crispy logos adorning the pre-painted work.

He'll be a big miss. I'll miss his colossal demo game set ups but, mostly I'll miss his big booming laugh and uncanny resemblance to Basil Faulty (especially in the leg department).

James Roach

10mm Bismark made from cereal packets and Yogurt pots here:
roundhead1642.blogspot.co.uk

THAT was just from cereal packets and yoghurt pots?!?!?!

Unbelievable – great talent, greater loss.

For those that want to see what Brian was capable of, please have a look at the selection of photos in this FB post, no log in required IIRC.

It got to the stage that we dare not speak of any project or film that we had seen in front of him, for the following week a plan would be put forward, the week after, it would have started to take shape, and all of a sudden we had to arrange for a high sided van to transport it to the shows.

Once the Raid on St Nazaire was finished (something silly like 24' x 18'), we had to institute a rule that under no circumstances was Brian to start anything unless he reassured us it could at least fit in the back of one of our members estate car.

link

Funeral for those that are local will be in Skipton on the 5th of March.

An incredible talent by the looks of things. I'd never heard of his name, but his Bismark game inspired me to do something similar though much, much smaller in scale. Condolences.