Sad news; Goodbye Chris

Sad news; Goodbye Chris

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Discussion

Dave_M

Original Poster:

5,486 posts

231 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
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Unfortunately, one of our close friends passed away on 21 November.

Chris (Barkychoc) will have been known to many of you. Always ready to help, clever, practical and innovative. Supportive and more importantly, a good friend.

He faced serious health issues for many years with his usual strength and courage but sadly none of us can fight forever, RIP Chris.

phillpot

17,279 posts

190 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
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That is sad news, think I only met Chris once but conversed via Forums many times, nice guy...... and not that old? frown

Dave_M

Original Poster:

5,486 posts

231 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
No not that old at all. Many years ago he was diagnosed with a brain tumour which they certainly slowed it's progress but could not be stopped.

He completely stripped and rebuilt a V8S to a fantastic standard, learning so much on the way and from that helped people on the forums.

However, he was unable to keep the car due to the above.

greymrj

3,317 posts

211 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
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That is very sad. Like Phillpot I only met him once but we have corresponded many times and he certainly had an important input when we were searching for alternative parts to keep the S cars going. A helpful and enthusiast guy despite the frustration of not being able to drive anymore as a result of his brain tumour.

S2Andy

308 posts

220 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
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RIP in Chris. Great guy and helped me a lot when I did my body lift 2009/10. Lots of advice and lent me loads of tools. Although the tumour was common knowledge he never dwelt on it. frown

tvrgit

8,473 posts

259 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
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Very sad news. Newer members to this forum might not be aware that Barkychoc gave out loads of advice after he rebuilt his V8S. As an example, he was one of the first to work out what bits he needed to put together to fit electric power steering to his car.

RIP Barkychoc. bowweeping

TVR-Stu

818 posts

206 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
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Terrible news, so sorry to hear this.

Like others I only met Chris a couple of times (he was an early organiser of S-club meets I think?) but he was always helpful answering any questions via pm's long after he had sold his S.

My most recent contact with him was when my son broke my TVR pint glass that Chris had engraved and sold in a batch many years ago. On the off chance he still had a few I got in touch. Unfortunately, he didn't have any left so kindly sent one of the ones he had been using himself, free of charge. This was just the kind of chap he was. Totally selfless.

RIP Chris.

Oldred_V8S

3,727 posts

245 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
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Oh no!
We swapped a few emails back and forth over the years, and as others have said he was a really knowledgeable, helpful, nice guy.

His attention to detail on the rebuild of his V8S was astounding.

Condolences to his family.

88S1

715 posts

68 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
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I never met or corresponded with him. But have seen his name on many many of the PH posts going back years. RIP & Condolences to the family.

GadgeS3C

4,516 posts

171 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
Thanks for sharing the sad news Dave. I

We joined the S scene after Chris had to sell his car due to the tumour. Even so he was a very active poster of helpful advice. I met him a few times and he helped out with some work on our M.

A top chap and can only echo the comments of others. You'd never have known he was ill from his attitude.

Our thoughts and sympathy to his family.

The Big G

998 posts

175 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
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Really sad news. I remember his thread on his rebuild and it gave me the confidence to do mine a couple of years later. He offered help and advice I me as well as numerous others and was a great wealth of knowledge. Something that’ll live in here with his threads and replies on here.

HvdWeerden

1,736 posts

207 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
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Sad news indeed, as most of you I never met Chris but we had regular FB messenger contact on the V8S rebuild. Very kind and helpful. RIP CHRIS

Elfit

573 posts

211 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
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Top man.
We're so lucky to have been able to benefit from his thoughts and advice on here.

aimbea

3 posts

48 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
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Hi all,

I am Chris’s daughter - so pleased to have found this post thanks to someone on Facebook. Really nice to read such lovely comments about him.

We have had it in our minds for a while now that we would like to try to arrange a TVR escort for dad’s funeral, so we’ve been trying to track down local people that he knew.
If any of you could help with this, that would be amazing. It’ll be in Grantham, although we don’t have a date yet. I’m just trying to get the idea out there to see if we can make it happen.

Longers

4,497 posts

235 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
Dave, thanks for starting this topic. I thought about doing it when we first got the news last night but I wasn't in the right frame of mind...

So many of the above comments sum Chris up perfectly. What is so poignant is that so many are from people who never actually met Chris, or did so only once at an event.

Unlike the majority of people in the TVR world I was lucky to know Chris socially outside of the forums & Facebook, although we originally met through our love of the S Series cars.

I didn't get to know Chris that well until I started helping him plan the 2008 S Club Heaven get together at Newark along with Dave, Dale (mycroft) & Mark (Gozzy). I will always remember our first planning meeting in the pub at Ashby Folville - I couldn't believe I was sat there the Barkychoc! It was at one of our early planning meetings that Chris told us he'd just found out about his tumour. Chris reduced his involvement but was still part of the team. We won the award for the 'best stand in the show' at Newark (Chris is on the right).



After being diagnosed Chris was no longer able to drive so was forced to sell his wonderful V8S he'd spent ages rebuilding.

Chris continued to be a regular contributor in PH & FB even though he didn't have a TVR. He was always willing to give his time and share his knowledge with anyone. One day he popped in to see me to do a simple job on the S I had at the time (well, it was simple for him but beyond my non-existent mechanical ability) and he ended up being here ALL day tinkering.

The last 12 years were really tough for Chris and it would've been easy for him to give up but he kept working for as long as he could and after having surgery he tried every type of treatment he could to delay the inevitable. I never heard him complain once about the situation he was in even though the endless rounds of treatments were obviously taking their toll on him physically.

The last time Dave, Dale, Gozzy & I got together with Chris was for one of our regular dinners was just before the lockdown began in March. It was a special evening I will never forget.

Chris, you were such a calm, kind and sincere person. Thank you for being you.

Cheers,
L'rs

GadgeS3C

4,516 posts

171 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
Just seen (on fb) that Chris' daughter Amy is trying to arrange a TVR escort to the funeral.

We don't have a TVR on the road but if anyone that knew Chris could help I'm sure it would be appreciated.

Hope this link works to connect to her facebook.

https://m.facebook.com/groups/TVRcars/permalink/17...

mycroft

1,545 posts

254 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
aimbea said:
Hi all,

I am Chris’s daughter - so pleased to have found this post thanks to someone on Facebook. Really nice to read such lovely comments about him.

We have had it in our minds for a while now that we would like to try to arrange a TVR escort for dad’s funeral, so we’ve been trying to track down local people that he knew.
If any of you could help with this, that would be amazing. It’ll be in Grantham, although we don’t have a date yet. I’m just trying to get the idea out there to see if we can make it happen.
Definitely up for this if you can make it happen . I was part of the group that met up with your father , i have taken him out in my TVR and would be honoured to attend .

v8s4me

7,264 posts

226 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
That's really sad to hear. Chris was a great help to me when I first got my V8S.

Longers

4,497 posts

235 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
aimbea said:
Hi all,

I am Chris’s daughter - so pleased to have found this post thanks to someone on Facebook. Really nice to read such lovely comments about him.

We have had it in our minds for a while now that we would like to try to arrange a TVR escort for dad’s funeral, so we’ve been trying to track down local people that he knew.
If any of you could help with this, that would be amazing. It’ll be in Grantham, although we don’t have a date yet. I’m just trying to get the idea out there to see if we can make it happen.
Amy, leave it with me, you've got enough to worry about. I'll get something sorted.

I've received your email and will reply tomorrow wink


GadgeS3C

4,516 posts

171 months

Sunday 22nd November 2020
quotequote all
Longers said:
aimbea said:
Hi all,

I am Chris’s daughter - so pleased to have found this post thanks to someone on Facebook. Really nice to read such lovely comments about him.

We have had it in our minds for a while now that we would like to try to arrange a TVR escort for dad’s funeral, so we’ve been trying to track down local people that he knew.
If any of you could help with this, that would be amazing. It’ll be in Grantham, although we don’t have a date yet. I’m just trying to get the idea out there to see if we can make it happen.
Amy, leave it with me, you've got enough to worry about. I'll get something sorted.

I've received your email and will reply tomorrow wink
Thanks Ian you're a star.