This is a devastating reminder of our mortality and why we should live everyday with a positive slant; like Dave did. I had to come on to pay this absolute gentleman a tribute.
Dave was the very first forum member I met when I first started suggesting some of us should meet up at the Old Farmers before games. The man was incredible. We met with a couple of others and his warmth, friendliness and kindness just shone through from that very first meeting. He became a friend even though we were from slightly different generations. He was such fun to be with and so welcoming in his “joie de vie” attitude, even when he had several bumps along his own path. He never let that bog you or him down.
He was incredible with my son when we would often collect him from his house when he lived in Winchester to drive together to games, always involving my lad in the conversations in the car. He never treated him like a boy in the back of the car and Ollie loved his guitar collection! Sometimes, Dave’s excitement about what was going on made it feel like travelling with two young boys (three of you include me!) such was his enthusiasm. I never met his children, yet I know how proud of them Dave was as he always spoke about them and was at his most excited when he was going to see them. A proud Dad. My son, my wife and my Dad all met him and remember him fondly. I doubt anyone who did meet him could feel any different.
He invited me to come down and play golf with him and his mates one day and it was a great day. Scorching hot day, shockingly bad golf from both of us and almost as shockingly bad golf attire too. I remember his bright yellow top was worse than my orange one and still the only time anyone has out “loud-styled me” on a golf course. I felt so welcome even though he told me I was joining his old man’s club too early. He saw everything as fun or at least meant to be taken as fun. (See Vin’s message about Ukulele Club). I too will never forget Dave’s excitement about the Spitfire flight. He threw that boy like spirit into everything. He was a hopeless romantic and always falling in love. Actually, I should change that to just “a romantic” as there was nothing hopeless about Dave Goodhand. (His home baking was great)
I’ve become true friends with some people I met via this forum and Dave was one of them and as mentioned, the first one I met at that pub all those years ago. I knew how good a friend he was when my son and I were at Newcastle away and a lady came up to me from sitting a few seats from us and asked if we knew Dave G. She’d seen us sat there and he’d obviously been talking about going to games with us and she’d thought we must have been the same people Dave had described as his companions going to some home games. He’d clearly been discussing us away from the games.
Losing Dave is very sad, a great loss and my thoughts go out to his family and close friends.
Rest in Peace Dave. Forever a Saint. Never forgotten.
Fats.
Dave was the very first forum member I met when I first started suggesting some of us should meet up at the Old Farmers before games. The man was incredible. We met with a couple of others and his warmth, friendliness and kindness just shone through from that very first meeting. He became a friend even though we were from slightly different generations. He was such fun to be with and so welcoming in his “joie de vie” attitude, even when he had several bumps along his own path. He never let that bog you or him down.
He was incredible with my son when we would often collect him from his house when he lived in Winchester to drive together to games, always involving my lad in the conversations in the car. He never treated him like a boy in the back of the car and Ollie loved his guitar collection! Sometimes, Dave’s excitement about what was going on made it feel like travelling with two young boys (three of you include me!) such was his enthusiasm. I never met his children, yet I know how proud of them Dave was as he always spoke about them and was at his most excited when he was going to see them. A proud Dad. My son, my wife and my Dad all met him and remember him fondly. I doubt anyone who did meet him could feel any different.
He invited me to come down and play golf with him and his mates one day and it was a great day. Scorching hot day, shockingly bad golf from both of us and almost as shockingly bad golf attire too. I remember his bright yellow top was worse than my orange one and still the only time anyone has out “loud-styled me” on a golf course. I felt so welcome even though he told me I was joining his old man’s club too early. He saw everything as fun or at least meant to be taken as fun. (See Vin’s message about Ukulele Club). I too will never forget Dave’s excitement about the Spitfire flight. He threw that boy like spirit into everything. He was a hopeless romantic and always falling in love. Actually, I should change that to just “a romantic” as there was nothing hopeless about Dave Goodhand. (His home baking was great)
I’ve become true friends with some people I met via this forum and Dave was one of them and as mentioned, the first one I met at that pub all those years ago. I knew how good a friend he was when my son and I were at Newcastle away and a lady came up to me from sitting a few seats from us and asked if we knew Dave G. She’d seen us sat there and he’d obviously been talking about going to games with us and she’d thought we must have been the same people Dave had described as his companions going to some home games. He’d clearly been discussing us away from the games.
Losing Dave is very sad, a great loss and my thoughts go out to his family and close friends.
Rest in Peace Dave. Forever a Saint. Never forgotten.
Fats.
, me, you, Vin (who can't hold a sign up the right way round apparently 
), SaintRitchie, Beddy and possibly Libby? Sorry 
