District Dave

[Deleted]

A man capable of fostering so well a community such as this, is indeed a good man.

Dave, I never met you, but you have helped me and many others to open a window to an aspect of our lives that we would not normally even think about. Thank you.

My sincere condolences to your family.

CU

[james66526]

I never met Dave but I can remember looking through his website for a bit of a heads up when I got my job as a train operator.
From the comments on here it's plain to see that he will be sadly missed by many people.
Let's hope the sticks are all green whereever you're going!

[bassmike]

R I P Dave

[Deleted]

A very sad day and i would also like to pass my condolences to his family during this time.

[trc666]

I can't believe this has happened. Rest in peace Dave, you will be missed, my thoughts are with your family at this difficult time.

[Deleted]

Absolutely gutted. RIP Dave, if it wasn't for you and your website I probably wouldn't have got a job on the railway. Sleep well mate, my thoughts are with you family and friends.

[Deleted]

So sad to hear this news. I hope Dave's family will draw some comfort from knowing how highly regarded he was by people that knew him personally and those, like me, who didn't but enjoyed reading his diaries and good-humoured, knowledgeable and respectful posts. I, for one, would not have been encouraged to pursue a career with London Underground if I hadn't stumbled upon his writing on tubeprune nearly a decade ago and he came across as a thoroughly decent man.

RIP Dave

[trentsidetraveller]

My condolences to Dave's family, may he rest in peace.

I may not have been a member here for long, but I've been reading Dave's website and the forum for many years. He came across as a thoroughly decent guy, and the wonderful comments about him here show how well respected and liked he was by colleagues, friends and even strangers.

RIP Dave

[metroland]

I'm a recent joiner and didn't know Dave. However, he's left a great legacy as I somehow knew of this site for ages before joining, and always had it at the back of my mind for things Underground related.

[Deleted]

There is nothing I can really add to the thoughts already expressed here.
However, I just had to post - even if just as a tribute and memoriam to Dave.

Several times over the years he posted in reply to some of my questions - and always in a helpful way.

And how else would some of us overseas folks have gotten so close to the LU!

You are missed, Dave, even in the hills of Kentucky. Quite an accomplishment for a District driver!
Sorry, gotta end this - me blubbering like a baby...rest in peace, good man.

[tubeprune]

Dave's wife Val and their son Chris have been reading the tributes and condolence messages and they have asked me to tell you all that they are overwhelmed. Val asked me to pass on her message. "Thank you all so much for your kind thoughts. We found it so moving to read that so many people, unknown to us, admired the work he had done, and that he was so well thought of."

[neilw]

terrible news......condolences to Dave's family and those of you on here lucky enough to count him as a freind

[angelislington]

The first time I saw Dave was on the District Line driver's eye DVD and was struck by the coolest of ways he pushed his shades back up. I kind of couldn't really believe that the guy I was watching on my telly was the founder of this site, was a real person, not just a snappy made-up name.

This site gave me my first inkling that I wasn't a freak for being an Underground nut (even if that green line rather leaves me cold, lol) - or, more specifically, that I wasn't the only young, female fan out there. The friendliness and knowledge on here is second to none, and I was proud as punch when he and his team chose me to become a Mod.

When I actually met the man himself, I couldn't believe how unassuming and nonchalant he was about what he'd created. He seemed almost embarrassed! We immediately hit it off - although, I can see how it would be damn near impossible not to hit it off with such an easy-going, generously-spirited gent - and within minutes were gabbling away about music, musicianship, gigs, singing... he recommended his son's band The Mercurymen as one to check out and he was right, I love their CD. He'd heard of lots of the same obscure stuff I had which was fantastic. It was like meeting a friend again after a 10 year gap.

He was such a good man, a gentle man, talented and fun and wise...

[a60]

Well, the only encounter with Dave I ever had, was when he was driving a train I was taking to Ealing, lots of experience and smooth and accurate on the braking.

But, what a person, he set up this forum and interacted with us. He lives on with us through this forum. End of an era....

My deepest condolences to his family, RIP.

[londonboy]

R.I.P Dave
I only met him once but what a pure Gentleman.

[jardine01]

thats really sad news my thoughts go out to his family. R.I.P Dave

[Dmitri]

A sad, really sad news ... RIP Dave, you'll be greatly missed...

[Chris M]

If his family agree, would it be possible to post on the forum the time of Dave's funeral so that those of us who wish to can share in a toast to the great man at the appropriate time.

[Colin]

Well the full details certainly won't be posted on here, but we may be able to reveal enough such that you'll be able mark the moment.

We make no promises whatsoever though and it will certainly be at the discretion of Dave's family.

[csalem]

Never met him but very sorry to hear this news. Without this site I doubt I would ever have photographed an Underground train.

[rincew1nd]

Oh my word, I really don't know what to say. I think the fact that this thread has reached eight pages in less than 48 hours says it all.

I hope that there is, somewhere out there, a D Stock carrying a black ribbon.

[Deleted]

Gutted, absolutely gutted.
A friend just posted the news on our own forum and I came over immediately to offer my condolences to his family.
I only met Dave once in the The Red Lion & Pineapple after the Acton meet about four years ago. I had some printouts of the 3D cabs I had built and he was very interested in my work and what I was creating. Such a polite person, even from the fist contact he was so accomodating and went round everybody at the meet in the pub to say hello and introduce himself to new commers.
I will really miss not being able to see him again but relish that one meeting we had.
Darren.

[Antje]

I feel very empty with the loss of District Dave, but this site will live on as his legacy, for example, it inspired me to start paying more attention to tube stock than before.

[Deleted]

I am really really shocked... I am glad I came back to the forum after leaving for a time, if it wasn't for this forum, I am sure I wouldn't be so well informed about LU... I really can't believe this... RIP

[Deleted]

What a sad news.
Dave had built a wonderful community.

RIP

[barrybahamas]

My condolences to his family and friends, of which he clearly had very many.

I have so enjoyed Dave's original site and this forum.

So thank you Dave, your memory and legacy will continue for a long time.

[Deleted]

It's clear from the comments here that he was a fantastic bloke, and his name will live on for a long long time to come. RIP.

[subwayrail]

I never had the pleasure of meeting Dave in person, but the occasional communications we had showed him to be a very decent and helpful individual. My sincere condolences go to his family. We all know he will be sadly missed, not just here, but around the globe.

[scorpio]

This is sad news. Never met him but from on here he sounds like he was a diamond geezer. May he Rest In Peace.

[underground2010]

R.I.P Dave, you will be missed