As mentioned a couple of weeks ago, Iâd like to present Pat, Davidâs wife, with a book of memories from the contributors of this forum when we meet up to raise a toast to him before the Birmingham match on the 14th. I would like the book to be full of happy memories, a positive effect David had directly or indirectly on your life, some sage advice he offered, some little gem gleaned from one of his insightful posts, something that amused you, anything really. Above all else I would like this to be a happy reminder of this forum for his family. I appreciate this will be easier for some than others, but hopefully everyone who wants to contribute a story will be able to. Please either attach your recollection to this post, or send me a PM. I intend to start compiling the book next Sunday, Iâd appreciate your contribution before then, Cheers Roller
I can't remember which thread, but the first thing he said to me was: "No offence Bill but you're friggin nuts!" I think he meant it in a jokey manner so I didn't take offence.
When I first started posting on the QPR board there were understandably sceptics among few that thought I had ulterior motives but Brix wasn't one of them. His trusting nature made him the great man we will all remember him for. Amongst helping me settle in, Brix was also able to share his own experiences watching both QPR and Chelsea. He explained how good the Chelsea side of the 60s were and how much he loved watching Rangers throughout his life. Whilst I never personally met Brix, I can't speak highly enough about him and in this day and age where football is becoming increasingly tribal with fans having a more polarised view of the game it's sad to see Brix go, however at the same time those that knew him will always have happy memories of him and it would please me greatly if Rangers could get promoted this season in his honour.
I joined this board after BrixtonR's sad passing so cannot relate any personal memories of David, but he had an impact on me nevertheless. I had been a visitor to the site for some time and recognised BrixtonR as a thoughtful and wise contributor. On the Monday after his death, sat in my office at work, I began to read the thread started by David's son. It was incredibly moving to witness the outpouring of love and affection expressed by the NOT606 board members and I found myself sat alone with tears running down my face. It is a remarkable thing that so many were touched by someone that most had never met.
I only met BrixtonR once, the weekend before he sadly passed away. We met at the Crown & Sceptre along with a group of us from the board. As soon as I met him he made it feel as though we had known each other for years. Up to then I had only communicated with him via this message board. He came across as a totally down to earth, and friendly man.
Thanks for those to date, especially to DL for an "outsiders" view. I've also received PMs from Beth and our old chum ThaiCanary, and look forward to receiving some more during the week as more of you put your thoughts into words.
I think from early on Brix stood apart from many on here simply by having the enviable knack of posting very measured pieces when often there was mayhem on the board. He would sum up quite lucidly what the majority of true supporters felt without some of the histrionics that would be the marque of certain posters. He was often complementary to some of my ramblings, particularly when we appeared doomed to the drop in our first season up and a gallows humour was developed which eventually saw us stay up on that amazing Sunday at the Etihad. I, like many others, miss his simple reassuring, reasoned presence in the background, the safety net that saved many from ourselves...
Brix seemed to have a genuine interest in every single poster, and a true collaborative approach to running the board. I was inordinately flattered to get a few PMs from him asking for advice on a couple of things. I'm sure many, like me, have stopped pressing the 'post' button on a particularly vitriolic or unconsidered post just on the basis on not wanting to cause him hassle. He managed the trick of balancing psychology, freedom of speech and the need for order exceptionally well to create a lively, stimulating environment which, if we stick to the template, will be a lasting memorial to him - and I'm sure there are many in the other aspects of his life as well. He was also obviously a fan of the English language - his own longer, well constructed articles are testament to that, but also the encouragement to others whose style he liked - he may have had a lapse in taste in my case, but he was constantly urging me to post longer articles. Having been lucky enough to meet him a couple of times, what you always suspected but can never know from a online community was immediately evident - a mischievous twinkle in the eye. I'm sure he had some fun with us as well. Above all, for us on here at least, he was hooped to the core. Cheers Graham
Northolt and Brix complimented each other well as mods on our board. When Northolt left at short notice, Brix made some enquiries, and I agreed to come on board, really to help him out rather than any innate sense of my own modding abilities. I get a lengthy and technical email from Brix on Modding Tools which I found intimidating, but I had to start somewhere, so I start looking out for threads to merge. It all went well at first. Posters opening threads on the same subject in their haste to get news onto the board. In I come to combine them. I got overconfident. After a week, a thread goes up (I can't remember the poster, but he doesn't post now) with a long and eloquent assessment of a player (which player, also escapes me). Another board member opens a thread on the same player, so in I come and merge. Big mistake! It turns out that the first poster thought of himself as something of an amateur sports journalist and proudly posted his work on all the QPR chat sites. He regarded it as a personal affront that his work should be diluted with that of another. While I'm blissfully ignorant, he pm's Brix with a strenuously worded complaint. Now Brix could easily have pointed out that having recently lost the experienced Northolt, he was saddled with some rookie blundering around trying to find his feet. No, Brix took responsibility personally, apologising and doing his best to calm ruffled feathers. He didn't need to say anything to me, I'd learned my lesson - light touch modding. But that was what I noticed working with Brix - if bullets were flying around, he'd step up beside you.
Brix (David) was someone I feel privileged to have known. For most of our "friendship" we'd never even met, but were online contributors to the QPR forum where David was a moderator. David was brilliant at taking the sting out of "hot" issues and always seemed to have a 6th sense about when a thread was about to turn ugly. He sent me a private message on the subject of "Dads" and I have to say it was one of the most touching pieces of writing that I'd ever read. It reduced me to a blubbering wreck, such was it's insight and poetic colouring. David always made it clear to me how proud he was of his Son Deon and it was obvious how much he loved him. I finally met David before a game and he revealed to me that he, like myself was quite unsure about getting to know fellow posters that were only online companions. However, we both agreed that it was a tremendous experience which was to be regularly repeated. My Son, Will also met David and liked his quirky, mischievous sense of humour. I really wish I'd know him for longer, but I will always remember the short periods of time in his company fondly. After reading Deon's tribute to his Dad after his sad passing, I realised that David was a very special human being indeed!! Rest in peace David. Remembered with respect and fondness. Colin.
The man called brix. I am not a q.p.r supporter at all, I am a ffc fan.(diehard). I first came across brix about 2 years ago, when I came trolling on the rangers board. I got a bit of natural stick from some rangers fans. then I got the this private message from brix, it really touched me, telling me to keep coming to this board, made me feel at home here(cant keep me away now). I love reading his reports and views about his beloved rangers. for someone I have never met. I feel I lost a friend. thank you for making me feel so welcome brix.
I never met Brix, I go to matches but have never wanted to put faces to names on here. I always loved his posts on the forum though. There was no-one else with his combination of brains and brawn. He got stuck in, but did it so eloquently that whoever was metaphorically having their heads knocked together took it with good grace. After he died and Roller and Deon posted his life story, for the first time I had a face - and a history - to go with his 'BrixtonR' avatar. Sounded like a great bloke, wish I had met him now.
I'm really not very good to put my feelings into words but here goes. I started conversing with David a while back, after he PM'd and thanked me in backing him up when dealing with a situation that occoured on the board. Straight away i warmed to him and was able to open up with my experiences, both good and bad, of life. I feel confident that he also felt the same way about me. Our lives could very well of crossed many years back, when i was young and stupid and i told him once that i wish i would of met him years ago, so i could of found a much better path a lot earlier than i did. I thought of him as a confidante, a comrade and after meeting him, a friend. It's no exaggeration to say that he had a very strong influence on me, both politically and emotionally. The world is truly a sadder place with his passing.
Hello everyone, I asked for Brix to become a moderator on here after reading one of his posts, where the fairness and the intelligence of the man was shining out of it. And I thought to myself: 'How in the hell am I mod, and he's not? ' Something was wrong there, as I'm sure you'll all agree!!! Here's the thread from back in the day : http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/71470-The-QPR-board-has-a-new-Mod?highlight=Brixton He always seemed like a lovely bloke on here, and I wished I met him in real life...........
