| Kaptain Kobold | 20 Mar 2008 8:30 a.m. PST |
If you are a British (or, indeed, any nationality of) wargamer of a certain age, then you were probably influenced by the work of Donald Featherstone. Today he turns 90! link Happy Birthday! |
| dasfrpsl | 20 Mar 2008 8:41 a.m. PST |
Yes, a very happy birthday to "The Don"! |
| Carolus | 20 Mar 2008 8:42 a.m. PST |
My first printed and non-home-spun wargame rules were "Skirmish Wargaming" by Donald Featherstone. Happy Birthday! Robert |
| shadow king | 20 Mar 2008 8:51 a.m. PST |
Happy day MR war game hope you have a great day… The master of British war games Tony Yates |
| Connard Sage | 20 Mar 2008 8:51 a.m. PST |
Happy birthday to the man whose books introduced me to the hobby Disapproving of a trend towards articles that were "attempting to spread an aura of pseudo-science over what is a pastime, That quote should be nailed over the Napoleonics boards |
| ElGrego | 20 Mar 2008 8:55 a.m. PST |
Happy birthday Mr Featherstone, and thank you. |
| Who asked this joker | 20 Mar 2008 9:02 a.m. PST |
I hear that guy knows something about war gaming.  Happy Birthday Donald! |
| Doug em4miniatures | 20 Mar 2008 9:03 a.m. PST |
I had a chat with him at Colours last year – a complete gent and it was quite poignant that he was strolling round, a diminutive, quite frail looking figure these days, amongst people, the great majority of whom had no idea who he was but who owed him so much. Happy birthday to THE wargaming legend. Doug |
Big Red  | 20 Mar 2008 9:37 a.m. PST |
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| Bad Painter | 20 Mar 2008 9:38 a.m. PST |
I had the honor of meeting Mr. Featherstone several years ago at Historicon. It was a hot summer afternoon and he was slowly making his way from the Tennis Barn to the main building of the Host. It looked like he was in distress so I offered to assist him. We stopped in the shade while he caught his breath, but managed to have a nice conversation. When I told him that I lived in Manhattan, he spoke of his nephew who was living there while working for the BBC. He then went on to say "He works in those two big towers downtown". I hope that nephew is among Don's many well wishers today.
Happy Birthday Mr. Featherstone, my library and my imagination have both been expanded by your work. |
| Thistledo | 20 Mar 2008 10:03 a.m. PST |
Happy Birthday Mr Featherstone. It was discovering his book wargaming in the local library which started me in the hobby some 36 years ago. |
| GoodBye | 20 Mar 2008 10:08 a.m. PST |
Happy Birthday Donald and thank you! He is the man directly responsible for my moving from throwing rocks at army men in the back yard, to the more civil past time of war gaming. He features largely in my library as is only right. |
| Marc the plastics fan | 20 Mar 2008 10:21 a.m. PST |
Wow – 90 years, most spent in the hobby. I know it can be easy to look down on the early years, but with the introduction of WAB the wheel appears to have turned. DF was the inspiration for me, and I am now a happy "Old School Wargamer", gradually learning to stop putting so much detail in my paint jobs, and learning how to have fun again. At that is what his wargame books always meant to me – FUN. And by strange quirk, re-read his piece in Battlegames last night (avoiding watching "Wedding Crashers"). For those of you who have met the great man – I genuinely envy you and wish I could. |
| Marc the plastics fan | 20 Mar 2008 10:23 a.m. PST |
And another thing – now that the Wargame has been reprinted, what about some reprints of DF's books? I have a credit card waiting for you publishers. |
| JackWhite | 20 Mar 2008 10:31 a.m. PST |
Haven't read the Courier for years (don't even know it it still exists), but always enjoyed it, as his love the hobby always shined bright. JW |
| Patrick R | 20 Mar 2008 10:39 a.m. PST |
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| Tankrider | 20 Mar 2008 10:40 a.m. PST |
A British tanker vet of WW II, a highly respected professional in his civilian career, and a complete gentleman wargamer. It was my privilege to exchange greetings and felicitations with him during a Historicon a few years ago. He's the kind of guy we should all grow up to be. |
| Veteran Cosmic Rocker | 20 Mar 2008 10:42 a.m. PST |
Happy brithday! and thank you for so much inspiration. |
| Mooseworks8 | 20 Mar 2008 10:58 a.m. PST |
Happy birthday and best wishes for many more years of wargaming and good health for Mr. Featherstone. |
 Dan Cyr | 20 Mar 2008 11:03 a.m. PST |
Trail blazer for those of us in the 50s and 60s. Happy birthday and may it find you in good health and happiness. Dan |
| Terrement | 20 Mar 2008 11:16 a.m. PST |
Happy Birthday to you, Hope that you get your due. You've taught us all history, And wargaming too… All the best wishes to a man who has given much to many ad influenced more folks than you could imagine. Thank you sir! JJ |
 McKinstry  | 20 Mar 2008 11:24 a.m. PST |
Happy birthday Mr. Featherstone. |
| mossdocking | 20 Mar 2008 11:43 a.m. PST |
The man who is responcible for my wargaming life discovered his book at school library ! Happy Birthday ! |
| GarrisonMiniatures | 20 Mar 2008 11:44 a.m. PST |
Must be 30 years since the last time I met Don. Very Happy Birthday and many more of them! Rob |
 Der Alte Fritz  | 20 Mar 2008 11:48 a.m. PST |
Happy Birthday to the Don. Thanks for so many enjoyable books and articles that you've penned over the years. |
| Quebecnordiques | 20 Mar 2008 12:14 p.m. PST |
Happy birthday, Donald Featherstone! |
| The Gonk | 20 Mar 2008 12:50 p.m. PST |
A toast to Donald Featherstone! |
| Ditto Tango 2 1 | 20 Mar 2008 12:58 p.m. PST |
Happy Birthday and thanks to Mr Featherstone |
| SteveJ | 20 Mar 2008 1:47 p.m. PST |
And still contributing to wargames magazines…
Not many of us could paint one figure per year and still have two DBA armies to play with.
A great innings- here's hoping he can get through the 'nervous nineties' and knock the next ten years off- he deserves that telegram.
All the best mate. |
| The Tin Dictator | 20 Mar 2008 1:56 p.m. PST |
I have a photo of Don and myself at one of the Historicon's in the mid 90's. We were in the hotel pub of course. Very nice man. Happy Birthday ! |
| Partizanmeister SloppyJalopy | 20 Mar 2008 2:02 p.m. PST |
Happy Birthday and thanks for setting me off on this road! Many years of pleasure, all ultimately owed to you sir, so my thanks! Laurence |
| Rudysnelson | 20 Mar 2008 4:05 p.m. PST |
I met him once at Historicon. he sat for awhile at my booth. A great story teller and all around Great guy. A very happy Birthday. |
| altfritz | 20 Mar 2008 5:11 p.m. PST |
Happy Birthday! His book "Battles with Model Soldiers" is what started my wargaming career so he has the same status with me as Gordie Howe or Wayne Gretzky might have to a hockey fan. I was very thrilled to be able to shake his hand a few years back. |
| FusilierDan | 20 Mar 2008 6:03 p.m. PST |
Happy Birthday Don. Solo Wargames kept me going when everyone else moved on.
Dan |
| Gray Bear | 20 Mar 2008 7:58 p.m. PST |
Happy birthday to a true gentleman. Cheers! |
| vojvoda | 20 Mar 2008 8:28 p.m. PST |
Over the years I have had the chance to talk to him and exchange mail a few times. He was very helpfull in getting information on what battlefields were worth a visit when my wife and I went to Spain. I wish he was able to travel to the states again. We miss seeing him at Historicon.
VR
James Mattes |
| Shagnasty | 20 Mar 2008 9:26 p.m. PST |
I too had the pleasure of meeting him at Historicon. He was a true gentleman and a wonderful conversationalist. I went to The Barn and bought his book "Campaigning With Wellington" so he could autograph it, although I already had it at home. Happy Birthday! |
| Agesilaus | 20 Mar 2008 10:46 p.m. PST |
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| highlandcatfrog | 20 Mar 2008 11:36 p.m. PST |
Happy Birthday and thank you so much! |
| Jed H R | 21 Mar 2008 5:24 a.m. PST |
Donald who?
Just kidding.
Happy Birthday! |
| DeckApe | 21 Mar 2008 9:33 a.m. PST |
Happy Birthday, Donald. Thank you for giving me the where-with-all and imagination to go back hundred, nay thousands of years and feel the excitement of battle! |
| christot | 25 Mar 2008 5:57 a.m. PST |
Happy Birthday indeed…..Hes almost solely responsible for my 30 years of Happy Happy wargaming….I can't thank the man enough. (I'm afraid I really doubt that sentiment is shared by my missus, and any number of previous girlfriends though) |
| Daddio | 26 Mar 2008 1:28 p.m. PST |
Happy Birthday, takes me back to my Airfix Confederates days Met him once at the show in Manchester, a true gentleman |
