Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Holte Enders in the Sky => Topic started by: dave shelley on January 28, 2024, 04:03:32 PM
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Good people of H&V it is with deep regret That I have to inform you that our friend and long time poster Stuart Griffin (Cheltenhamlion) passed away suddenly yesterday. I have just been informed of this by his wife. I don't know anymore at this moment but when I learn anything further I will pass it on. RIP Stu.
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Good people of H&V it is with deep regret That I have to inform you that our friend and long time poster Stuart Griffin (Cheltenhamlion) passed away suddenly yesterday. I have just been informed of this by his wife. I don't know anymore at this moment but when I learn anything further I will pass it on. RIP Stu.
Oh shit, only met him for the first time last season, bloody hell.
Rip, way too young.
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Thanks Dave. I had a message from my brother, who used to work with him at Legal and General, a little earlier and couldn’t believe it.
I went to Wembley with him a couple of times and he was always good company.
RIP Stu
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Met him a few times, a lovely fella. Shocker of news.
RIP Stu, you'll be missed.
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oh dear sad news RIP ..
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That's sad news.
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Sad news. Had many an argument with him in the Bartons.
Best wishes to his family.
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Bloody Jesus!!!
That's so hard to believe.
No age at all.
RIP Chelts.
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Awful news. He leaves 2 young sons and his lovely wife who I know will all be devastated. His eldest had only just started going down the Villa with him x
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That’s really sad news.
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Fuck me. That’s so very sad. He was a really good fella. For those of us who have been on this place for a long time we will remember him with fondness. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.
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I first bumped into Stu when he was shagging one of our gang back in 1998. We got on. Fast forward to 2013 and he introduces Jane to me at the Bartons after the Malaga friendly. Then I ended up at L&G with him in 2015. He gave me a start in fraud a few years later. He was a very very clever man who taught me a lot about fraud but more than that he was excellent company down the pub.
He lost his job a few years ago and had just started at a new place recently. Last time I spoke to him was last month, he seemed in fine fettle and was coaching an under 9’s rugby team in Stourbridge. This is deeply, deeply shocking news for a lot of people and I regret not seeing him after the pandemic packed up.
RIP, Stu. Will miss our chats in the Dragon after work, and the daft shit we got up to following the Villa.
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Bloody hell, I messaged him a week ago about meeting up before the Newcastle game next week.
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Sad news, he was always entertaining in off topic.
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Fucking hell.
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I'm absolutely stunned. He wrote for H&V regularly; at times he wrote more than I did. During lockdown he was thoughtful enough to keep in touch with many people and his inside knowledge (he never did reveal his source) was always handy when a new manager was being appointed. RIP Stu and my deepest sympathy to his family.
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He used to be quite a regular poster on here but not seen any contributions for a while. Condolences to his family.
RIP
HEITS
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Sad news, he was always entertaining in off topic.
And had a highly satisfying loathing for the Albion.
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Many a chat the past few years about his lad Spencer's rugby prowess, be a fitting tribute to his old man if he makes it as a pro which looked pretty good last season.
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Sad news, he was always entertaining in off topic.
And had a highly satisfying loathing for the Albion.
He certainly did and one of my outstanding memories of him is us nearly getting thrown out of The Barton’s for singing FTA after beating them in that FA Cup quarter final, and then when they told us they would throw us out is we didn’t shut up, singing ‘we’re not singing any more!’
Also - just remembered him requesting The Liquidator as the final song at my wedding just so he could sing Fuck of West Brom at my 17 year old step son!
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Sad news he was a great poster and often had insider stories. Never met the man but awful news. Our lives are so precious people.
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That is awful news. I first met Stu in the Swiss Cottage before the final against Citeh. I met him again with Stu in the Wellington and found we had a common friend (the common friend is Phil, Percy). Obviously, most of the regular posters will remember him on here.
My sincere condolences.
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What terrible sad news….RIP HEITS
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Sad news.
R.I.P.
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Very sad news. I didn't know him personally but he was a well respected member and poster on here. Condolences to family and friends. RIP Chelts.
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I’m genuinely so shocked, and so sad to hear that. RIP mate.
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Such a shame
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Jesus christ, that really is the most awful news, I don't know what to say. I'd met him loads of times and although I've not seen him for a while, I'd definitely class him as a mate, as he'd often phone up out of the blue when you'd least expect it. He's got two young lads as well, this is absolutely tragic. Christ.
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I pretty sure I met him on a number of occasions.
Really sad that he leaves behind two youngsters.
RIP.
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Very sad to hear this. Spoke to him often at both home and away games over the years. RIP
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I'm absolutely stunned. He wrote for H&V regularly; at times he wrote more than I did. During lockdown he was thoughtful enough to keep in touch with many people and his inside knowledge (he never did reveal his source) was always handy when a new manager was being appointed. RIP Stu and my deepest sympathy to his family.
He certainly had his finger on the pulse regarding ITK and told me many things about what was happening. He'd ring me regularly and it was just last week when we were speaking and he was telling me about a new job he'd just started, that and all other sorts of stuff. He told me Dr Tony Shit Shoes was incoming before it was announced.
He and his family went on holiday to one of the Greek islands last summer to the same place as my daughter and hers were going. It turned out to be the same hotel so she dug him out, easily recognised by his Villa shirt. I shall miss our conversations which were never less than an hour.
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Oh no I can’t believe it. He regularly calls me. We’d planned on going to see villa in Europe.
His poor family. His boys are wonderful.
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Met Stuart once, before that game in 2015 we don't mention.
As other's have said he was great company.
Sincerest condolences to his family and friends.
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I cannot say that I knew the chap, but he appears to have touched a lot of people in here.
Sad news & I hope everyone is ok.
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Sad news, he was always entertaining in off topic.
And had a highly satisfying loathing for the Albion.
I actually thought of him today when The Liquidator was played at the derby, reminiscing about how we sang "Fuck Off West Brom" at Amfy's wedding, before I heard the news.
RIP Stu & all my love to the wonderful Mrs G xx
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Weird place H&V. I don’t know any of you but when someone departs it still feels like a friend has gone. RIP stu.
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Sad news, he was always entertaining in off topic.
And had a highly satisfying loathing for the Albion.
He certainly did and one of my outstanding memories of him is us nearly getting thrown out of The Barton’s for singing FTA after beating them in that FA Cup quarter final, and then when they told us they would throw us out is we didn’t shut up, singing ‘we’re not singing any more!’
Great night, that. The barman who tried to get us to pack up singing was losing his mind, no idea what to do with about 100 Villa fans taking the piss. Never saw that barman again after that night
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Condolences to all H&Vers who appeared to have had the very real pleasure of knowing a very decent and wonderful man. My sympathies to his friends and family.
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I'm absolutely stunned. He wrote for H&V regularly; at times he wrote more than I did. During lockdown he was thoughtful enough to keep in touch with many people and his inside knowledge (he never did reveal his source) was always handy when a new manager was being appointed. RIP Stu and my deepest sympathy to his family.
He certainly had his finger on the pulse regarding ITK and told me many things about what was happening. He'd ring me regularly and it was just last week when we were speaking and he was telling me about a new job he'd just started, that and all other sorts of stuff. He told me Dr Tony Shit Shoes was incoming before it was announced.
He and his family went on holiday to one of the Greek islands last summer to the same place as my daughter and hers were going. It turned out to be the same hotel so she dug him out, easily recognised by his Villa shirt. I shall miss our conversations which were never less than an hour.
He must’ve been on the phone all the time. I remember getting a call just as I was getting out of my car at home - I answered and we probably talked (well he did!) for two hours, my wife was really concerned as I’m normally on the phone for two minutes.
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I didn't know him but his posts were always entertaining. Condolences to his wife and family. Very sad news.
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Bloody awful news. Didn't know him too well but had a few chats with him in the Bartons and in Stour, lovely bloke.
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Terrible news, and sincere condolences to Stuart's family. RIP my friend.
Back in 2013 we had a "break in" in our house at night whilst we were asleep. They cleaned out most of the valuables downstairs and took both our cars. I posted on the forum about it and straight away I received a PM from Stuart. He gave me lot of advice about the claim process and kept up the guidance all the way through including how to deal with those friendly Assessors appointed by the insurance company to help me apparently. With Stuart's help I was able to legitimately expand the claim in a way I would never have thought of and certainly not something that the assessors would have told me about.
Wonderful man.
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Weird place H&V. I don’t know any of you but when someone departs it still feels like a friend has gone. RIP stu.
Yes, that’s how I feel. I’ve never met anyone, a few pm’s, help, favours and advice here and there, but after probably twenty odd years of reading comments you do feel like you get to know people on this site.
Virgile Cane summed that up well. Reading this thread it seems the world is missing a very special person. My condolences to his family and friends.
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Sad news, he was always entertaining in off topic.
And had a highly satisfying loathing for the Albion.
He certainly did and one of my outstanding memories of him is us nearly getting thrown out of The Barton’s for singing FTA after beating them in that FA Cup quarter final, and then when they told us they would throw us out is we didn’t shut up, singing ‘we’re not singing any more!’
Great night, that. The barman who tried to get us to pack up singing was losing his mind, no idea what to do with about 100 Villa fans taking the piss. Never saw that barman again after that night
Also the semi-final against Liverpool in the same cup run, where we nicked some bloke’s Liverpool flag (capture the flag!) who dared to venture into the Swiss Cottage after the match and walked into a wall of Villa fans off here, all hammered and loving the fact we had a pet Liverpool fan to play with.
And let’s not forget the burning of the half and half scarf after the final. Got very lord of the flies, that.
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Very sad news.
He was a great poster and seemed a top person.
So sorry for his family and friends on here who know him.
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Sad news, he was always entertaining in off topic.
And had a highly satisfying loathing for the Albion.
He certainly did and one of my outstanding memories of him is us nearly getting thrown out of The Barton’s for singing FTA after beating them in that FA Cup quarter final, and then when they told us they would throw us out is we didn’t shut up, singing ‘we’re not singing any more!’
Great night, that. The barman who tried to get us to pack up singing was losing his mind, no idea what to do with about 100 Villa fans taking the piss. Never saw that barman again after that night
Also the semi-final against Liverpool in the same cup run, where we nicked some bloke’s Liverpool flag (capture the flag!) who dared to venture into the Swiss Cottage after the match and walked into a wall of Villa fans off here, all hammered and loving the fact we had a pet Liverpool fan to play with.
And let’s not forget the burning of the half and half scarf after the final. Got very lord of the flies, that.
Ha. Forgot the half and half scarves after the final. Blurry memories of some mildly concerned Arsenal fans. Then it got even more blurry. Edvard was also there?
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. Quote fail
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Sad news, he was always entertaining in off topic.
And had a highly satisfying loathing for the Albion.
He certainly did and one of my outstanding memories of him is us nearly getting thrown out of The Barton’s for singing FTA after beating them in that FA Cup quarter final, and then when they told us they would throw us out is we didn’t shut up, singing ‘we’re not singing any more!’
Great night, that. The barman who tried to get us to pack up singing was losing his mind, no idea what to do with about 100 Villa fans taking the piss. Never saw that barman again after that night
Also the semi-final against Liverpool in the same cup run, where we nicked some bloke’s Liverpool flag (capture the flag!) who dared to venture into the Swiss Cottage after the match and walked into a wall of Villa fans off here, all hammered and loving the fact we had a pet Liverpool fan to play with.
And let’s not forget the burning of the half and half scarf after the final. Got very lord of the flies, that.
Ha. Forgot the half and half scarves after the final. Blurry memories of some mildly concerned Arsenal fans. Then it git even more blurry. Edvard was also there?
Edvard with a round or two of sambuca shots, yes. Omg.
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The Sambuca might explain the blurriness 😁
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That is awful news. Condolences to his family and those who knew him.
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Sad news, he was always entertaining in off topic.
And had a highly satisfying loathing for the Albion.
He certainly did and one of my outstanding memories of him is us nearly getting thrown out of The Barton’s for singing FTA after beating them in that FA Cup quarter final, and then when they told us they would throw us out is we didn’t shut up, singing ‘we’re not singing any more!’
Great night, that. The barman who tried to get us to pack up singing was losing his mind, no idea what to do with about 100 Villa fans taking the piss. Never saw that barman again after that night
Also the semi-final against Liverpool in the same cup run, where we nicked some bloke’s Liverpool flag (capture the flag!) who dared to venture into the Swiss Cottage after the match and walked into a wall of Villa fans off here, all hammered and loving the fact we had a pet Liverpool fan to play with.
And let’s not forget the burning of the half and half scarf after the final. Got very lord of the flies, that.
And after the league cup final against City, coaching the foreign City fans to sing "Fuck the Albion" with us.
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Shocking news. Though I never met him, we were friends on FB and exchanged a a few messages. Then one night, completely out of the blue he calls me up for a chat. Boy could he talk, we must have been on the phone for at least an hour. What an absolutely lovable fella, so full of life and energy.
I can't begin to think how his wife, boys and family are right now.
RIP Stu.
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Sounds like a larger than life character. Even a casual acquaintance who bothers to call various people up that he originally met on here, - it's a wonderful anachronism in a way. Clearly H&V and the networks he forged here meant a lot to him. It takes real integrity and heart to keep in touch with folk through the old-fashioned way of a lengthy phone call, a method not something that most men are gifted at.
I hope he knew how appreciated he was.
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This is a terrible shock to all of us who knew Stu and absolutely devastating for Vicky, Charlie and Spencer. Stu was a lovely person, caring, a proud father, an entertaining companion, a regular at the Barton's who always used to come over for a chat. He wrote excellent articles for Heroes & Villains, many with the title "I'll tell you what else I don't like" (it was a long list!). He was one of the best of many talented contributors to the fanzine - perceptive, imaginative, fluent and extremely witty - and also produced brilliant satirical pieces for our family on the occasion of my 70th and my brother's 75th birthdays. He will be greatly missed.
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This is a terrible shock to all of us who knew Stu and absolutely devastating for Vicky, Charlie and Spencer. Stu was a lovely person, caring, a proud father, an entertaining companion, a regular at the Barton's who always used to come over for a chat. He wrote excellent articles for Heroes & Villains, many with the title "I'll tell you what else I don't like" (it was a long list!). He was one of the best of many talented contributors to the fanzine - perceptive, imaginative, fluent and extremely witty - and also produced brilliant satirical pieces for our family on the occasion of my 70th and my brother's 75th birthdays. He will be greatly missed.
Hear, hear. Very well said. Hard to believe I won't see him next time I'm at the Barton's.
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I’m another WHO NEVER met him but it felt like I knew him from his involvement on here. Very, very sad. RIP.
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I’m another WHO NEVER met him but it felt like I knew him from his involvement on here. Very, very sad. RIP.
Exactly the same for me Chris. Always enjoyed our interactions on here.
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Sad news, he was always entertaining in off topic.
And had a highly satisfying loathing for the Albion.
He certainly did and one of my outstanding memories of him is us nearly getting thrown out of The Barton’s for singing FTA after beating them in that FA Cup quarter final, and then when they told us they would throw us out is we didn’t shut up, singing ‘we’re not singing any more!’
Great night, that. The barman who tried to get us to pack up singing was losing his mind, no idea what to do with about 100 Villa fans taking the piss. Never saw that barman again after that night
Also the semi-final against Liverpool in the same cup run, where we nicked some bloke’s Liverpool flag (capture the flag!) who dared to venture into the Swiss Cottage after the match and walked into a wall of Villa fans off here, all hammered and loving the fact we had a pet Liverpool fan to play with.
And let’s not forget the burning of the half and half scarf after the final. Got very lord of the flies, that.
Ha. Forgot the half and half scarves after the final. Blurry memories of some mildly concerned Arsenal fans. Then it git even more blurry. Edvard was also there?
Edvard with a round or two of sambuca shots, yes. Omg.
So many good memories with Chelts when i visited for a game. That semifinal was high on the list
RIP
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This is a terrible shock to all of us who knew Stu and absolutely devastating for Vicky, Charlie and Spencer. Stu was a lovely person, caring, a proud father, an entertaining companion, a regular at the Barton's who always used to come over for a chat. He wrote excellent articles for Heroes & Villains, many with the title "I'll tell you what else I don't like" (it was a long list!). He was one of the best of many talented contributors to the fanzine - perceptive, imaginative, fluent and extremely witty - and also produced brilliant satirical pieces for our family on the occasion of my 70th and my brother's 75th birthdays. He will be greatly missed.
His "I tell you what else I don't like" column was my favourite bit of H&V, long before I met him.
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Weird place H&V. I don’t know any of you but when someone departs it still feels like a friend has gone. RIP stu.
Exactly. I never met him. I’m in the pub and people have asked why I have tears in my eyes.
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Never met but words and comments on here all point to him being a a very popular and likeable character.
RIP Stu.
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The last time I physically met Stu was after the last game of the season in 2015 when we'd just lost at home to Burnley and it was a week before the cup final. We'd arranged to meet in the Barton's after the game. We shared a taxi into town where I got the tram to Wolverhampton and he went his way. He even let me hold his cup final ticket! Every thing that's been said on here about Stu since this awful news broke is true, he was a decent man and he was my friend.
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That's very sad. I always enjoyed reading his contributions but never met him and that sounds like my loss.
What a shame for his many friends and especially his family.
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This is a terrible shock to all of us who knew Stu and absolutely devastating for Vicky, Charlie and Spencer. Stu was a lovely person, caring, a proud father, an entertaining companion, a regular at the Barton's who always used to come over for a chat. He wrote excellent articles for Heroes & Villains, many with the title "I'll tell you what else I don't like" (it was a long list!). He was one of the best of many talented contributors to the fanzine - perceptive, imaginative, fluent and extremely witty - and also produced brilliant satirical pieces for our family on the occasion of my 70th and my brother's 75th birthdays. He will be greatly missed.
I'm certain it was him who worked out that involvement with so many overseas Lions clubs was a front for your international drug dealing network.
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This is a terrible shock to all of us who knew Stu and absolutely devastating for Vicky, Charlie and Spencer. Stu was a lovely person, caring, a proud father, an entertaining companion, a regular at the Barton's who always used to come over for a chat. He wrote excellent articles for Heroes & Villains, many with the title "I'll tell you what else I don't like" (it was a long list!). He was one of the best of many talented contributors to the fanzine - perceptive, imaginative, fluent and extremely witty - and also produced brilliant satirical pieces for our family on the occasion of my 70th and my brother's 75th birthdays. He will be greatly missed.
I'm certain it was him who worked out that involvement with so many overseas Lions clubs was a front for your international drug dealing network.
It was indeed and he wrote very amusingly about it. When I asked him last year to write a follow up for my Dad's 75th he was only too happy to oblige. Another hilarious piece arrived within days, alongside the aforementioned lengthy phone calls to discuss that and everything else.
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This is a terrible shock to all of us who knew Stu and absolutely devastating for Vicky, Charlie and Spencer. Stu was a lovely person, caring, a proud father, an entertaining companion, a regular at the Barton's who always used to come over for a chat. He wrote excellent articles for Heroes & Villains, many with the title "I'll tell you what else I don't like" (it was a long list!). He was one of the best of many talented contributors to the fanzine - perceptive, imaginative, fluent and extremely witty - and also produced brilliant satirical pieces for our family on the occasion of my 70th and my brother's 75th birthdays. He will be greatly missed.
I'm certain it was him who worked out that involvement with so many overseas Lions clubs was a front for your international drug dealing network.
You're right Dave. My nefarious activities were exposed by investigative journalist Stu Griffin.
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It really was!!
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Another thing about Stu, when it came to writing long and glorious rants, Stu had few equals.
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I’m so sorry for the people on here who knew Stu and especially sad for his family.
I used to enjoy his posts. RIP Stu.
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Like so many of you, I didn't know him but he felt like at least an aquaintance after so many years reading his posts. He did send me a PM giving advice on a subject I'd asked about which was much appreciated. He was a valued part of our own little community here.
Absolutely tragic.
HEITS, UTV.
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Such terrible news, Stu was a good guy. As others have said, he was so friendly and chatty. I am just so shocked, because he had decades left in the tank.
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Can I also add to what other people have said. I never met him either but from what I've read on here, he sounded a really lovely chap. I hope if his wife and kids reads these tributes, they take some comfort in them.
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I also liked the way he made his office based insurance job sound so exciting, I hated mine when I did it.
What a sad day.
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I remember being in the Swiss Cottage the night before the FA Cup semi. He decided it would be hilarious to sing that godawful “Aston Villa that’s who” nonsense as a chant right in front of a load of Liverpool fans. The scruffy, scrawny so and so. Then at the Man City final he seemed to be wearing a weird three piece suit get up for some reason.
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Sad news. Another HITS ...
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a regular on here for along time he will be missed
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I cannot say that I knew the chap, but he appears to have touched a lot of people in here.
Sad news & I hope everyone is ok.
This from me too.
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I’m so sorry for the people on here who knew Stu and especially sad for his family.
I used to enjoy his posts. RIP Stu.
Yes, this sums it up better than I could put into words.
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So sorry to hear this tragic news. Thoughts are with his family. He was a real stalwart of H&V, and was really missed when he stopped posting
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If there is anywhere to contribute to help his family please let me know.
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I remember being in the Swiss Cottage the night before the FA Cup semi. He decided it would be hilarious to sing that godawful “Aston Villa that’s who” nonsense as a chant right in front of a load of Liverpool fans. The scruffy, scrawny so and so. Then at the Man City final he seemed to be wearing a weird three piece suit get up for some reason.
I'd forgotten about that suit!
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I'm another one who didn't know him other than by his contributions to H&V. However, as others have already so eloquently said, that doesn't mean that my world's not poorer than it was. My condolences to all of you who knew him well.
HEITS
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I'm yet another poster who didn't know Stuart at all, had no idea that was his real name, but enjoyed his contributions to the forum .
So sorry to hear of his untimely passing, condolences to his loved ones.
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Awful news, always came across as a very decent fella.
RIP HEITS
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Terrible news. I never met him but remember his posts and he seemed a very nice guy. My condolences to his family. HEITS.
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I didn’t know him personally but he was part of the “H&V family”. It’s clear from comments from those that did know him he was a top man. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
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I'm another one who didn't know him other than by his contributions to H&V. However, as others have already so eloquently said, that doesn't mean that my world's not poorer than it was. My condolences to all of you who knew him well.
HEITS
I didn’t know him personally but he was part of the “H&V family”. It’s clear from comments from those that did know him he was a top man. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
Yeah, these two for me as well. He seemed to be a really good guy from here. People who I know to be really good people, say he was a great guy.
A sad day, and all the sympathy in the world to his friends and family.
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I think after posting on the same site for many years, you get a sense what someone is like in real life, and Chelts was no exception. He was funny, intelligent, opinionated and a bit mad on here, and that's just what he was like when you met him. A very kind soul indeed. I wonder if there's anyway of contacting the club and seeing if we could get his photo on the big screens? Scant consolation for his family obviously, but he was Villa through and through and his picture at a place he obviously loved might mean something in years to come. Just a thought.
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Very sad news.
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Awful news, only met him a couple of times in the bartons but seemed like a really good bloke, sincere condolences to his friends and family.
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Genuinely stunned. Too, too young.
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Terribly sad news.
RIP Chelts.,
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(https://i.ibb.co/xMt2MMH/Stu-G.jpg) (https://ibb.co/xMt2MMH)
Also the semi-final against Liverpool in the same cup run, where we nicked some bloke’s Liverpool flag (capture the flag!) who dared to venture into the Swiss Cottage after the match and walked into a wall of Villa fans off here, all hammered and loving the fact we had a pet Liverpool fan to play with.
Stu with that Liverpool flag
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I mentioned earlier that my daughter met him and his family in Cos last summer and talking to her this afternoon to let her know, she's just come back this evening and said she's almost certain that Stu told her they were the same age which is 47 and that, to me, makes it more painful.
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A genuinely likeable man. We always chatted in the Bartons after a game over pints. He often told me proudly of his son’s progress playing the game, he too played at a very decent level, he really knew his stuff. What was he, early 40s? Just devastating that he’s passed on, devastating for his family and ourselves. I will really miss him.
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Never met him but always loved his contributions on here. RIP and thoughts and prayers with his family. Too young.
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I think after posting on the same site for many years, you get a sense what someone is like in real life, and Chelts was no exception. He was funny, intelligent, opinionated and a bit mad on here, and that's just what he was like when you met him. A very kind soul indeed. I wonder if there's anyway of contacting the club and seeing if we could get his photo on the big screens? Scant consolation for his family obviously, but he was Villa through and through and his picture at a place he obviously loved might mean something in years to come. Just a thought.
The club can be quite accommodating with things like this.
When my grandad passed they sent out a large flag to cover his coffin.
It was beautiful.
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Very sad news. Stuart was good enough to call me to see how I was getting on after my dad died in 2022 and again last year after I was robbed. As has already been mentioned (apologies for forgetting who, it's likely to be multiple people) during lockdown, he adopted a policy of ringing one or two people a week for a chat and make sure they were doing OK in those strange times. The Swiss Cottage convention, pre and post match, easily the most enjoyable aspect of the Cup Final appearance.
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Larger than life, a top bloke when I met him.
I've never been good at building relationships on here, but Stu was someone that was easy to get on with.
Am I right in thinking he was Hercules or Bella or something for a bit?
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Sad news - always liked his H&V articles.
Condolences to the family.
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Singing songs with him and drinking way too much ale after the Derby play off final will stick with me for a good while.
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Singing songs with him and drinking way too much ale after the Derby play off final will stick with me for a good while.
There's no better way Jon.
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This is devastating news. I never had the pleasure of meeting Chelts but I feel like I knew him through his words. In his articles and his contributions to the forum he was authentic, wise and witty, always insightful, often riveting, never dull. It's a measure of the quality of his writing that many of us feel bereft at the loss of a man we never met.
Thoughts with his family, and with all of you who knew and loved him. Take care.
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Singing songs with him and drinking way too much ale after the Derby play off final will stick with me for a good while.
What a day that was in the Swiss Cottage.
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Singing songs with him and drinking way too much ale after the Derby play off final will stick with me for a good while.
What a day that was in the Swiss Cottage.
We must all raise a glass for him when we are in there for the FA Cup semi and Final.
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That's very sad. I always enjoyed reading his contributions but never met him and that sounds like my loss.
What a shame for his many friends and especially his family.
Agree with all this.
It's shite news to hear, especially for someone so young. Never met him (and didn't realise he knew so many here so well) but can't recall his posts ever causing any bother. Instead he often dished out helpful advice on claims, and I quite enjoyed his insurance related anecdotes/rants.
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After lengthy thought I believe that the best way to mark his passing would be Tuesday night, on 47 minutes, with a chorus of Fuck the Albion.
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RIP Stuart. Another Holte Ender in the sky.
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Awful news.
So sad. Was reading some old PMs on here the other day, and came across a few from Chelts.
I'll miss you mate.
RIP
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That's very sad. I always enjoyed reading his contributions but never met him and that sounds like my loss.
What a shame for his many friends and especially his family.
Agree with all this.
It's shite news to hear, especially for someone so young. Never met him (and didn't realise he knew so many here so well) but can't recall his posts ever causing any bother. Instead he often dished out helpful advice on claims, and I quite enjoyed his insurance related anecdotes/rants.
Originally I wrote this:
I loved his insanely detailed rants about insurance fraud prevention. I felt like I was filling the forms out with him.
But deleted it because I was worried people might think I was being snarky, but those posts always put a giant smile on my face. I was so sad when he stopped posting so frequently.
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That's very sad. I always enjoyed reading his contributions but never met him and that sounds like my loss.
What a shame for his many friends and especially his family.
Agree with all this.
It's shite news to hear, especially for someone so young. Never met him (and didn't realise he knew so many here so well) but can't recall his posts ever causing any bother. Instead he often dished out helpful advice on claims, and I quite enjoyed his insurance related anecdotes/rants.
Originally I wrote this:
I loved his insanely detailed rants about insurance fraud prevention. I felt like I was filling the forms out with him.
But deleted it because I was worried people might think I was being snarky, but those posts always put a giant smile on my face. I was so sad when he stopped posting so frequently.
Similarly, what I want to say but worried it would sound a bit disrespectful, is that I can actually very clearly hear his voice in my head saying
‘How absolutely bloody typical that I should die just when the Villa are starting to do well’
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That's very sad. I always enjoyed reading his contributions but never met him and that sounds like my loss.
What a shame for his many friends and especially his family.
Agree with all this.
It's shite news to hear, especially for someone so young. Never met him (and didn't realise he knew so many here so well) but can't recall his posts ever causing any bother. Instead he often dished out helpful advice on claims, and I quite enjoyed his insurance related anecdotes/rants.
Originally I wrote this:
I loved his insanely detailed rants about insurance fraud prevention. I felt like I was filling the forms out with him.
But deleted it because I was worried people might think I was being snarky, but those posts always put a giant smile on my face. I was so sad when he stopped posting so frequently.
Nope you are not on your own, I've always pretty much hated work so was in awe of someone who clearly loved what he did.
I was always reminded, after reading his office based posts, of that bit at the start of one of the Monty Python films, where the insurance company staff untether their building and use it to sail around the sea being pirates.
I really hope thats not seen as being disrespectful for any of his friends here, please no.
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He’d literally just started a new job, too.
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RIP, HEITS.
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Like most I didn't know him but enjoyed his posts. That's terrible news paticularly at such a young age and with a grieving wife and children. This feels like we are a large family coming together to remember a much loved member. HEITS
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Terrible news. Although I’ve never met anyone here I’ve been logging on for the thick end of 20 years. It’s like losing a friend when a long term poster dies.
I will add his family to my prayers this week. RIP.
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That's very sad. I always enjoyed reading his contributions but never met him and that sounds like my loss.
What a shame for his many friends and especially his family.
Agree with all this.
It's shite news to hear, especially for someone so young. Never met him (and didn't realise he knew so many here so well) but can't recall his posts ever causing any bother. Instead he often dished out helpful advice on claims, and I quite enjoyed his insurance related anecdotes/rants.
Originally I wrote this:
I loved his insanely detailed rants about insurance fraud prevention. I felt like I was filling the forms out with him.
But deleted it because I was worried people might think I was being snarky, but those posts always put a giant smile on my face. I was so sad when he stopped posting so frequently.
I know exactly what you mean, Mike. He made his office sound like the headquarters of MI6! I bet he was brilliant at his job.
Though I didn't know him, it's such sad news, and my heart goes out to his poor family.
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To his family and friends, my deepest condolences to you all for your loss.
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Bloody hell, such sad news.
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As a fellow egg chasing fan Stu was immensely proud of Spencer’s ability and Charlie’s boundless energy kept him on his toes. His mad antics at the cup games at Swiss Cottage are the stuff of legend. RIP Stu thanks for all the memories.
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My condolences to the Family
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RIP Chelts. HEITS.
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That's very sad news. Although I never met Stu he was a gent online and seemed a lovely bloke.
RIP Stu and condolences to the family.
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My thoughts are with his wife and family and to all of you that knew him. May he Rest in Peace.
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Totally shocking. I got chatting to him in the Barton's randomly last season while waiting for LeeB. A lovely bloke, so easy to talk to. No age at all. RIP.
Edit: I first met him before the Derby playoff final. He didn't remember me, but there's no way I could have forgetten him!
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Awful news.
Met him briefly at one of the Walsall friendlies, nice fella. Had a couple of rows with him on here (well, of course I did), but it all ended amicably.
Deepest condolences to his family and friends, they must be devastated.
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Like many on here I never met him but it is lovely to see the outpouring of respect from those that have virtually interacted alongside the stories from that met or had friendships with him. Long may those stories keep coming….
As sad as it is this brings it home what a great community we have here, sure we don’t agree on things much of the time but there is a warmth that comes across at times like this.
Thoughts with all you guys that knew Stuart, it’s always horrible when you lose someone you knew.
Hope tomorrow night we get a performance and result to honour Stuart and those that are able can raise a glass to him.
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Very sad news. Condolences and best wishes to his family.
I never met him, but reading the comments of those that had on here, as well as his posts over the years, it's fair to say, I wish i had.
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Such sad news, RIP and sincere condolences to his family and friends
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RIP Stu a pleasure to of met you and sincere condolences to his family and friends.
UTV
The Doc
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What horrible news, I'm so sorry for all who knew him.
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This is very shocking and sad news. Condolences to his family and all who knew him.
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Only knew him from his posts on H&V, but RIP Stu and condolences and prayers for those grieving at the news.
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I knew Stu for almost 20 years. We both wrote for Heroes and Villains, we met at the Barton's before and after every home match and at away games in places like Wembley, Wigan, Hamburg and Sandwell, and, being such a sociable person, he had a very good relationship with my family and Villa-supporting friends, but I had no idea how many people he connected with through the medium of this website. This says a lot about the strength of the H&V community and is a great tribute to Stu, who many of you felt you knew without ever having met him.
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So sorry to hear of Stuarts passing. Rest in Peace Cheltenhamlion.
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Yes, really sad to hear that a member of this community and fellow Villa fan has passed away particularly at such a young age and with young children. RIP Stu, and condolences to the family.
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So sad to hear this news - our sincere condolences to Stuart`s family and friends
May you rest in peace brother
God Bless
VCTM and VCTM jnr
Clive and Cameron
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I remember he used to be a contributor I looked out for in the Fanzine but I always thought he wrote under a nom de plume (Specifically the baby from Family Guy).
Then it took ages for me to realise he was Chelts on here (I think someone mentioned it in a post.) One day I posted something which identified my work place and he DM'd me to state his wife Vicky worked there as well. Vicky Who was my reply and that was when I realised his name was real.
I never had the experience of meeting him in the flesh. Thoughts are with his family and I know for a fact, the workplace will support Vicky over this awful time.
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Like everyone else, stunned by the news. Always stopped for a chat with him and his lad in the Bartons. Will raise a glass to him tomorrow. RIP Stuart.
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I can’t be the only person on here who held their nearest and dearest just that little bit closer last night after hearing this news.
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I can’t be the only person on here who held their nearest and dearest just that little bit closer last night after hearing this news.
Nope. I can’t be the only person that hardly slept either. A terrible, terrible thing to find out.
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Yes, the worst thing for me is the fact that those lads won't grow up with him there, and he's not going to see the men they grow into. It's too heartbreaking for words.
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Sad news. Remember him from here (was wondering if he was also on avillafan but it was just on here). Never met him but one of those posters like bish, Risso, ads, Bad English et el that you get to know from being around here despite never meeting.
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I can’t be the only person on here who held their nearest and dearest just that little bit closer last night after hearing this news.
Definitely. Little Man got a lot of extra loves, cuddles and love you son last night.
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What's been on my mind and bothering me a lot since this awful news broke is: I genuinely hope and pray his kids didn't witness him collapsing and the subsequent efforts of the paramedics to revive him. No child needs to see that.
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So sad, Rest in peace.
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I’ve exchanged a few texts with Vicky and she has found all your lovely words a real source of strength over the last couple of days so thank you all x
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That’s good to hear. I’m still shocked - and as one who didn’t meet Stu in person, I feel thankful for this forum for the chance to interact with him. It’s genuinely a special place, with lots of good people here.
Best wishes and thoughts with Stu’d family.
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I was thinking about all the Villa badges we brought into the Bartons for Stu's son. Then about so many often drunken conversations and volleys of swearing (Yes about the Albion, but many other things as well). There was some top of the voice singing of Abba songs a covers band played in the Bartons at the end of one season or another (And taking the piss out of me for knowing the words) and lots of shots whenever Edvard visited. But most of all I keep coming back to the conversation about the phone calls and how ringing people up he'd not spoken to for ages, was genuinely cheering them up and giving him a buzz as well. As was usually the case I missed his last call, and intended to call him back but it wasn't to be this time and I can't believe how many weeks ago that actually was.
So glad there's comfort for Vicky in these messages, she replied to a message I left today even though I said there was no need in amongst what must be an overwhelming amount of best wishes on top of the trauma.
HEITS indeed and a quieter pub after games. We need to pick up the mantle and moan more about bloody games on the telly making it harder to get together and look after each other and share the photo's! (Have really appreciated all the ones being shared in a number of places online, thanks to everyone that's done that).
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RIP Stu. Fucking cruel world sometimes, far too young.
"Yippeeh aye aaaayyyy yippeeh aye ooohhhh..."
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Very sad news. I am just catching up. I did not know him but the tributes here speak volumes in terms of the man. RIP
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Stu’s funeral has been arranged for March 1st.
If any of his Villa family would like to attend and don’t have the details, drop me a DM. Thanks x
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Has his family set up anything for contributions?
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I know its contributions to The British Legion but just checking if there’s a particular link to follow. x
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Thanks amfy
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https://stuartgriffin.muchloved.com/
Here is the link for donations in Stuart’s memory.
If anyone would like to attend the funeral/wake please let me or someone know so Vicky can keep track of numbers for catering.
x
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Just bumping this up.
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Also - there are some lovely words on this thread - it’d be great if some of you could also write on the tribute in the link. x
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Another bump - a good cause and nice to read some touching comments about Stu.
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I don't know about anyone else but two weeks on I'm still finding it hard to believe.
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I don't know about anyone else but two weeks on I'm still finding it hard to believe.
I know exactly what you mean Dave.
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If he hadn't passed away, I'd be wondering what was going on as I would be waiting on a phone call because it would be two weeks, it was rarely that long. There's a weekly gap in my evenings.
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I think that because I only saw him sometimes, it hasn’t really registered that I won’t see him again.
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I don't know about anyone else but two weeks on I'm still finding it hard to believe.
I know exactly what you mean Dave.
Yes, still feels completely unreal.
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I think the death of someone you see, interact with, infrequently is so hard to process. Or at least I find it very hard, because it’s like I constantly am re-confronted with the fact they’re gone. RIP Chelts.
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Bumped.
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Hi all. Stuart’s wife, Vicky, would like to maybe use some of your stories of Stuart at his funeral, would everyone be ok with that?
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Absolutely she can. Would she like us to read them out?
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Cheers Dave, I’ll feed that back and see what she says!
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Back on the front page for another push.
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Just saw this. He used to sit in the row in front of me in the Holte. RIP Stuart. HEITS.
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Just saw this. He used to sit in the row in front of me in the Holte. RIP Stuart. HEITS.
Jane & I were looking over at where he used to be on Saturday and wondering if the people who had seats around him knew what had happened.
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Was wondering who the Stu mentioned was in the Newcastle post match thread who'd passed. Didn't see this thread until now for some reason.
Always a poster I enjoyed reading years back. Think I actually queried a year or two what had happened to him on here and now I read the awful too soon passing of him.
R.I.P.
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Just this morning I was thinking that it's a month yesterday that Stu passed away. That's an awful long time to remain without burial, post mortem notwithstanding.
Over here in rural Ireland a person can die on say a Monday and will be buried by Wednesday if not Tuesday. I fully understand the population differences between rural and urban areas as well as the population between Ireland and the UK but that time lapse all seems doubly heartbreaking for families. As with all major trauma, the body/brain almost immediately begins the process of healing itself even though the sufferer may not know it. By the time the funeral takes place the family may just be beginning to come to terms with what happend when the pain and anguish begins all over again.
If Nev of this parish is reading this and remembers, we had a mutual friend who died suddenly on holiday in Spain a few years ago and IIRC it was six or seven weeks before he was repatriated and his funeral was allowed to take place. It all seems so cruel to me.
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Just this morning I was thinking that it's a month yesterday that Stu passed away. That's an awful long time to remain without burial, post mortem notwithstanding.
Over here in rural Ireland a person can die on say a Monday and will be buried by Wednesday if not Tuesday. I fully understand the population differences between rural and urban areas as well as the population between Ireland and the UK but that time lapse all seems doubly heartbreaking for families. As with all major trauma, the body/brain almost immediately begins the process of healing itself even though the sufferer may not know it. By the time the funeral takes place the family may just be beginning to come to terms with what happend when the pain and anguish begins all over again.
If Nev of this parish is reading this and remembers, we had a mutual friend who died suddenly on holiday in Spain a few years ago and IIRC it was six or seven weeks before he was repatriated and his funeral was allowed to take place. It all seems so cruel to me.
We had to wait a month for my mum's funeral last autumn. It was horrible for it to take so long.
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A month or so is pretty usual now. I remember a time when it was always about a week to a fortnight at most.
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When my dad died fifty years ago, the funeral took place four days later. Unless for religious purposes, as Amfy said, a month is about normal now.
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Yep both my parents have passed away in the last 5 years or so and both Funerals were about a month after passing.
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Not had to worry about it since my dad went in 2018. Then it was about 2-3 weeks. We had the opposite problem with my mum where we had to delay it back due to family being away, and then not clashing with mine and my dads Birthdays but that was 2012.
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I know exactly what you mean, Mike. He made his office sound like the headquarters of MI6! I bet he was brilliant at his job.
Though I didn't know him, it's such sad news, and my heart goes out to his poor family.
I'm just reading through the thread again, sorry for quoting weeks later. I suppose because the funeral is imminent and I just miss my friend. But the bolded bit is true: he was excellent at his job. He always used to say that the counter-fraud game is a sales job and he was absolutely right. At the risk of pulling back the curtain a bit, getting liars to buy into their own bullshit by, in my case, sounding like a thick Brummie before taking their account apart is the name of the game.
His passing is my loss and I shall miss him greatly.
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You play the part so convincingly Stu! ;)
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I know exactly what you mean, Mike. He made his office sound like the headquarters of MI6! I bet he was brilliant at his job.
Though I didn't know him, it's such sad news, and my heart goes out to his poor family.
I'm just reading through the thread again, sorry for quoting weeks later. I suppose because the funeral is imminent and I just miss my friend. But the bolded bit is true: he was excellent at his job. He always used to say that the counter-fraud game is a sales job and he was absolutely right. At the risk of pulling back the curtain a bit, getting liars to buy into their own bullshit by, in my case, sounding like a thick Brummie before taking their account apart is the name of the game.
His passing is my loss and I shall miss him greatly.
That's a lovely story and if anyone else wants to make a donation here's the link.
https://stuartgriffin.muchloved.com/
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It certainly sounds like he will have a large group of friends from H&V attending tomorrow. I hope I get to say hello to a fair few.
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It's really quite strange that the funeral is tomorrow when it still doesn't feel real. The H&V representatives will do him proud, for that I'm sure.
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It's really quite strange that the funeral is tomorrow when it still doesn't feel real. The H&V representatives will do him proud, for that I'm sure.
One of them is currently doing it in his trousers at the thought of speaking in public and I don't doubt that Stu will be up there pissing himself at it.
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He really will be!!
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I only met Stu a few times at away games in London, most notably at Wembley and enjoyed great times pre and post match at the Swiss Cottage. Such a character as he was always so friendly and funny. I hope for all attending (especially those also speaking) that it goes as well as these things can and he has a fabulous send off. Will be thinking of Stu, the family and all of you I know tomorrow. God bless.
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Also hoping it all goes well tomorrow, only a brief meet in person but there are some folk you always read and think fondly of on here; it was moving the other week to read all the thread.
Thanks to those who speak well of their friend on our behalf tomorrow.
Send all our love to his family please.
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Yes, best wishes to all.x
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I'd like to echo the above. I didn't know him but today is going to be sad for those that did. I hope it goes as well as it can and that you all give him a good send off. It sounds like he deserves just that.
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It's really quite strange that the funeral is tomorrow when it still doesn't feel real. The H&V representatives will do him proud, for that I'm sure.
One of them is currently doing it in his trousers at the thought of speaking in public and I don't doubt that Stu will be up there pissing himself at it.
Nice one Dave, I'm sure you'll do him proud.
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You'll be great, Dave - nobody better. Looking forward to hearing your tribute.
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RIP Stuart.
I hope the day goes as well as can be for his family and friends.
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4 years ago today we were all gathering for the League Cup Final. If you’d told me then we’d be doing this today I’d have thought you were mad.
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I'd like to echo the above. I didn't know him but today is going to be sad for those that did. I hope it goes as well as it can and that you all give him a good send off. It sounds like he deserves just that.
My thoughts exactly.
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RIP Stuart.
I've not known what to put on here before today, I'd only ever known him from here but he always came across as a good guy and at a similar age to me he's clearly gone far too young.
I hope the H&V reps that are attending can offer some comfort to his family on our behalf.
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4 years ago today we were all gathering for the League Cup Final. If you’d told me then we’d be doing this today I’d have thought you were mad.
It's insane Richard. I had a pint with him in the Barton's last year, he was a year older than me. It doesn't compute at all. I didn't know him at all well, met him twice and then only briefly, but it's sobering, to say the least. I hope he gets a great send off and my thoughts are with his family.
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A very sad day, RIP Stuart
FTA and UTV
The Doc
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Was hoping to make it today but just back from Doc's with Diazepam for back pain.
RIP Chelts.
I only knew you through H&V but your posts spoke volumes about your love for The Villa and a healthy disrespect for our neighbours and beyond.
The kindest of regards to all there today, especially Stu's family.
UTV!
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Hope it's a fitting send-off for the fella.
And get well soon, Frank.
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A lovely service, with a brilliant eulogy from Dave. Big H&V turn out. Sleep well Stu.
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Always loved his posts, H & V legend.
RIP Stu
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Hope it's a fitting send-off for the fella.
And get well soon, Frank.
It was. When people fly in from around Europe you know it's for someone very special.
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It was a very poignant service officiated very well by the Villa chaplain and Dave’s tribute was very fitting.
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To echo what has been said above. It was poignant, moving and not without humour. Service was conducted by the official Aston Villa chaplain which was a nice touch.
Something Stuart did for me without ever knowing was allowing me to meet some very nice genuine and generous people who until then had only been names. I sincerely wish the circumstances had been better but nonetheless I'm grateful for it. For one last final time, RIP Stu, you were a good 'un.
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Like others, I’ve been in a state of shock this past month. Today really demonstrated what a good, much loved man Stuart was.
I’m thankful to have some good friends to share what was a very difficult day.
We’ll miss you Stu. Your boys did you proud today.
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Sorry forgot to say, great speech Dave. A difficult thing to do.
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Sorry forgot to say, great speech Dave. A difficult thing to do.
Agreed. It isn't easy to stand up in front of a crowd like that today and deliver a eulogy that was warm, compassionate and interspersed with no little humour that left us with jus a little bit of grit in our eyes. Well done Dave, you done good.
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Sounds like a great celebration of his life.
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A lovely service, with a brilliant eulogy from Dave. Big H&V turn out. Sleep well Stu.
Good to read brothers & sisters. What are we but our connections and the love between us. I think k my non-drinking host’s last guest left some Pilsner in the fridge. They are filming in the lounge but I’m going to go liberate the beer to toast Stu. UTV.
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Might or might not be a good idea, but any chance of posting the text of the eulogy for the people who missed out, either because of distance, illness or concern of butting in where they didn't feel they had the right,
I can understand if you also don't want to.
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Might or might not be a good idea, but any chance of posting the text of the eulogy for the people who missed out, either because of distance, illness or concern of butting in where they didn't feel they had the right,
I can understand if you also don't want to.
I don’t think it’s really possible unfortunately. The order of service card was quite brief, and only the Villa chaplain and Dave spoke, but none of it was written down.
‘Fuck the Albion’ (toned down obvs) featured quite highly though!
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I've got it written down but I don't think I'd like to publish it here without Vicky's knowledge or permission and now isn't the right time to ask her.
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RIP Chelts.
(https://i.ibb.co/5R8MBjh/FB-IMG-1709329838072.jpg) (https://ibb.co/5R8MBjh)
upload photo for link (https://imgbb.com/)
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I’ve got plenty of dust in my eye, and even more contempt for the saying ‘it’s only a game’.
RIP Brother.
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I've got it written down but I don't think I'd like to publish it here without Vicky's knowledge or permission and now isn't the right time to ask her.
I would endorse that. I'm sure that the wider H&V community would be very interested to read your excellent eulogy, but this wouldn't be the right time to ask Vicky. (You don't often get a eulogy applauded at a funeral, as yours was).
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I wished I could have stayed longer at the wake it was gearing up to be a good one. It was brilliant that some of our overseas Villains came over to be present. That was a great gesture by you lads and sorry Mark, I’ve met you once before but didn’t twig it was you. Please don’t feel I was ignoring you, my memory isn’t what it once was or you’ve got younger.
I didn’t know Stuart as well as many of you but knew him well enough to say my life will be poorer for the omission of his wisdom, knowledge and humour. I am eternally grateful that this platform gave me the opportunity of meeting the man.
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I never met him but he sounds like a top bloke and Villa through and through. My condolences to his family and friends. RIEP Stuart. Another HEITS.
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Jane & I crawled back to a Premier Inn at about midnight via McDonalds, having watched the Albion game in an Albion pub on the way home too. Managed a few rounds of FTA in honour of Stu, in response to a group that started a SOTV (for absolutely no reason, but there’s a reason why he hated them!)
It was a fantastic turn out for him with the crematorium overflowing with friends & family. The service was lovely with a genuine sense of the man he was. Dave did brilliantly recounting stories from here (weirdly mainly mine!) and then Vicky topped it with a drunken Villa story of her own.
The Villa Chaplain did a great job and I’d definitely recommend him to anyone in similar circumstances if you don’t want an entirely secular service, but aren’t that religious.
I didn’t expect to be as tearful during the service as I was, but it was moving in lots of different ways. Don’t Look Back in Anger will never sound quite the same again, and Villa gatherings will never be quite the same either. I’m looking forward to remembering him together again on our next trip to The Swiss Cottage, which we hope will be sooner rather than later.
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Yes, was great to see some old and new faces despite the circumstances. It was a wonderful send off for Stu.
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Yes, was great to see some old and new faces despite the circumstances. It was a wonderful send off for Stu.
Really great to see you and Jane again yesterday Stu, and Amfy and everybody else.
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Yes, was great to see some old and new faces despite the circumstances. It was a wonderful send off for Stu.
Really great to see you and Jane again yesterday Stu, and Amfy and everybody else.
Nice that so many made the effort to be there yesterday, given some had to travel considerable distances.
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I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there, but unfortunately my Mum passed away on the 17th and things have been hectic and sad in equal measure here.
Last met Stu at the play off final, we had a good chat and me and my lad had a great photo with him before we left. Back in the day, he first came on the Cheltenham bus, fascinated by the noisy teenage loons at the back, of which I was one.
He gave me a few private nuggets of information about the Villa over the years.
Stu was a proper good egg, and the love for him is heartwarming.
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Whenever a sentence begins "Jane & I" you know what's coming next.
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Sorry to hear about your Mom, Lee.
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Sorry to hear about your Mom, Lee.
Please accept my condolences too, sad times for you all.
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My condolences to you and your family, Lee, what a sad time for you all.
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Whenever a sentence begins "Jane & I" you know what's coming next.
Never like to disappoint, Dave! Also want to echo what everyone has said, the service was lovely and Dave, you did a cracking job - as Frank said, you don't often get a round of applause for a eulogy.
Despite the circumstances, it was lovely that our H&V family came together as one, and was nice to catch up with people from near and far.
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I wished I could have stayed longer at the wake it was gearing up to be a good one. It was brilliant that some of our overseas Villains came over to be present. That was a great gesture by you lads and sorry Mark, I’ve met you once before but didn’t twig it was you. Please don’t feel I was ignoring you, my memory isn’t what it once was or you’ve got younger.
I've got younger, Bren. I did see you, first in the chapel when I took you as one of the undertakers - you do scrub up well, then later thinking the undertaker looks like a tall, younger Tony Morley. Only later did I find out it was you. Next time, fella, it's a promise.
It was a wonderful day with tears and laughter for a very special person. Anybody who can have '(I'm a) Rock 'n' Roll Star' blaring out as we all entered the chapel without it being questioned most certainly is and what a brilliant, intelligent, amusing and crazy artist Stuart was. He was also a loving husband and father to two great young lads. On that I'm lost for words..
RIP Stuart.
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Reminder we are all brothers and sisters on here. I love all of you, including Rory “2am”, especially Axl, Brazilian Villain and fellow maiden fan CT Villain and Legion who have helped me personally. Saw fb post and shocked at his age. UTV and what divides any of us is not the same as what unites us on here. Love to you all
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I've spoken to Vicky today and she said how much she appreciated the support they received at the funeral. She also said it was okay to reproduce the eulogy. A lot of it has been said on here already but this is roughly how it was spoken.
"First of all, if there are any Albion supporters here, they might be as well to skip this bit.
I can’t remember when I first met Stu. I don’t think many of us can – he just arrived in the Barton’s and from then on he was a part of our lives. A lot of the things that happened in there on matchdays were probably best glossed over but there were one or two that bear repeating. When we heard the awful news a lot of people chipped in with memories and their thoughts about Stu, so if I can just recall a few here.
“Had many an argument with him in the Bartons.”
“One of my outstanding memories of him is us nearly getting thrown out of The Barton’s for singing fu…. actually I’d better not say the rest, after beating them in that quarter final, and then when they told us they would throw us out if we didn’t shut up, Stu singing ‘We’re not singing anymore!’
“A genuinely likeable man. We always chatted in the Bartons after a game. He often told me proudly of his son’s progress playing the game, he too played at a very decent level, he really knew his stuff.”
“Being such a sociable person, he had a very good relationship with my family and Villa-supporting friends, but I had no idea how many people he connected with. It is a great tribute to Stu, who many of you felt you knew without ever having met him.”
There was a time when the Swiss Cottage near Wembley became the Barton’s South and Stu was in his element there, possibly because he didn’t have to go home that night. Again, a few recollections…
“The semi-final against Liverpool where we nicked some bloke’s Liverpool flag who dared to venture into the Swiss Cottage after the match and walked into a wall of Villa fans. Stu loved the fact we had a pet Liverpool fan to play with.”
“And let’s not forget the burning of the half and half scarf after the final. Got very lord of the flies, that. Blurry memories of some mildly concerned Arsenal fans. Then it got even more blurry.”
“The Swiss Cottage the night before the FA Cup semi. He decided it would be hilarious to sing that godawful “Aston Villa that’s who” nonsense as a chant right in front of a load of Liverpool fans. The scruffy, scrawny so and so. Then at the Man City final he seemed to be wearing a weird three piece suit get up for some reason.”
“I first met him before the Derby playoff final. He didn't remember me, but there's no way I could have forgotten him!”
But it wasn’t always around pubs that Stu enjoyed himself.
“Him requesting The Liquidator as the final song at my wedding just so he could sing Fu… again, I’d better not say the rest, at my 17 year old Albion-supporting step son! To which a heavily pregnant Vicky said “I wouldn’t mind but he’ll be asleep and snoring before we get off the car park.” And he was.”
And his writing, which I had to edit. He loved doing something called 'I’ll tell you what else I don’t like’, to which the short answer seemed to be just about everything. When it came to writing long and glorious rants, Stu had few equals. Or as someone else said, “He was funny, intelligent, opinionated and a bit mad on paper, and that's just what he was like when you met him.”
It was Stu who revealed that Frank Pattison’s membership of about fifty overseas Villa supporters clubs and his extensive foreign travel was in reality a cover for an international crime network involving seemingly-innocent members of his family. He also had an uncanny knack of knowing what was happening at the Villa although he never did reveal his source.
But there was also a serious side to Stu. People who knew him through work said how good he was at his job, how he would always help his colleagues, particularly new arrivals and as was also said, “How he made life in an insurance office sound like working for MI5”.
The great side of Stu came to the fore during lockdown, when he made it his job to keep in touch with everyone he knew, to make sure we were coping and to help anyone who need helping. Afterwards he carried on ringing us all regularly and while it was always great to hear from him, those of us who had early starts would sometimes wish he perhaps hadn’t rung quite so late.
But that was Stu. Funny, friendly, a downright decent person and totally off the wall. I can’t not relay the best Stuart Griffin story of them all, and of course it’s after a match in the Barton’s. Stu was off on holiday with the family and was asking everyone he knew for loose change for the amusements. Nigel Kennedy was at the bar and Stu decided that he was going to ask Nigel as well. Now, picture the scene. Stu often wasn’t the most sartorially elegant of men and this was one of those occasions. Nigel’s taken one look at this scruffy sod and bearing in mind this is in Newtown, and he’s being asked for loose change, you can imagine what he’s thinking. Now, Nigel’s musical genius is only rivalled by his generosity and he starts handing over a load of pound coins to this bloke, who’s desperately trying to tell the world’s most famous classical musician that he’s not some homeless vagrant, he’s just trying to get two pence pieces for his kids to play on the slot machines, while at the same time trying just as hard not to burst out laughing.
That was Stu. As was also said, “I can clearly hear his voice in my head saying ‘How absolutely bloody typical that I should die just when the Villa are starting to do well’.”
We’ll miss him. We’ll certainly never forget him."
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Excellent.
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That was a wonderful read.
Well done Dave.
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Thanks for asking and posting Dave.
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A lovely eulogy Dave. My condolences to all of you for the friend you’ve lost.
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Beautiful.
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This could do with a bump as well.
https://stuartgriffin.muchloved.com/
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Such a privilege to read that again, Dave. Still doesn't seem real.
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Lovely eulogy Dave
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Such a privilege to read that again, Dave. Still doesn't seem real.
It doesn't. I still remember having the longest telephone conversation of my life with him when he went out of his way to help me find alternative employment when my teaching contract was not renewed in 2017. A class act and gesture. Somewhere on my laptop or back-up HDD I have a full copy of his interview with the BBC for the FA Cup feature we were involved in. Could someone ask his family if it would be appropriate for me to upload it to YouTube if there is any interest and I can find it?
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Thanks so much for sharing Dave. That makes missing out due to being over in Germany for a few days for this documentary feel a bit less tricky, I’m so glad to hear Stu’s wife so valued our community’s contribution/support.
Would have been great to see the Villa Chaplain in action (though I’d probably have been sizing him up, that’s staring to be a fantasy role for me!).
I can’t help but think of a banner in the Johan Cruyff Arena would be a fitting H&V send off, though I guess you can’t really guarantee what gets seen on’t telly & maybe Villa Park would be more fitting/visible… has anyone considered anything?
We get a lot of applause on certain minutes stuff, I suppose it would be important for family to feel they want/want to witness anything…
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Such a privilege to read that again, Dave. Still doesn't seem real.
It doesn't. I still remember having the longest telephone conversation of my life with him when he went out of his way to help me find alternative employment when my teaching contract was not renewed in 2017. A class act and gesture. Somewhere on my laptop or back-up HDD I have a full copy of his interview with the BBC for the FA Cup feature we were involved in. Could someone ask his family if it would be appropriate for me to upload it to YouTube if there is any interest and I can find it?
That’s a fab idea Lee.
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Such a privilege to read that again, Dave. Still doesn't seem real.
It doesn't. I still remember having the longest telephone conversation of my life with him when he went out of his way to help me find alternative employment when my teaching contract was not renewed in 2017. A class act and gesture. Somewhere on my laptop or back-up HDD I have a full copy of his interview with the BBC for the FA Cup feature we were involved in. Could someone ask his family if it would be appropriate for me to upload it to YouTube if there is any interest and I can find it?
I forgot about that, hope you still have it.
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I will look for it today.
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I can’t help but think of a banner in the Johan Cruyff Arena would be a fitting H&V send off, though I guess you can’t really guarantee what gets seen on’t telly & maybe Villa Park would be more fitting/visible… has anyone considered anything?
I don't know about a banner, but I wonder if some of the villa massif away following has something that could represent Stu for the rest of the games so "he was there" for them this season.
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I can’t help but think of a banner in the Johan Cruyff Arena would be a fitting H&V send off, though I guess you can’t really guarantee what gets seen on’t telly & maybe Villa Park would be more fitting/visible… has anyone considered anything?
I don't know about a banner, but I wonder if some of the villa massif away following has something that could represent Stu for the rest of the games so "he was there" for them this season.
Yep. That might be good if anyone has any idea…
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Lovely eulogy Dave.
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Found it.
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I can’t help but think of a banner in the Johan Cruyff Arena would be a fitting H&V send off, though I guess you can’t really guarantee what gets seen on’t telly & maybe Villa Park would be more fitting/visible… has anyone considered anything?
I don't know about a banner, but I wonder if some of the villa massif away following has something that could represent Stu for the rest of the games so "he was there" for them this season.
A huge Fuck The Albion would do it.
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I was thinking that could do it, however less photo friendly for being caught on TV camera and could make it look a bit small time fans for the ones not in on the reference. Most might think DW is around.
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I was thinking that could do it, however less photo friendly for being caught on TV camera and could make it look a bit small time fans for the ones not in on the reference. Most might think DW is around.
If it was put about on Twitter & FB etc in the same way as those that ask for a minutes applause, then maybe it could take off. It is what he would have wanted! 🤣
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Amfy I think you are correct. I know it seems weird to others but I maintain my ethical boundaries/vows (we have more speech precepts than body and
Mind) and so I don’t sing songs with swearing or even against other teams.
They are kind of my football precepts. Until my family zone migration and fatherhood I’d still lose my voice!
If we do this, channelling the words of Janice as Spoken by Leonard,
“But for me you would make an exception” (doubly!)
Oh and might be at Spurs on my own ;)
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Rather than let this slip away into obscurity it'll be moved to HEITS so if you want to add a few final words or donate to the fundraiser, this is your chance.
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Stu featured in the half time tribute last night to those we have lost this season.
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Stu featured in the half time tribute last night to those we have lost this season.
That's great to hear Richard.
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We did it Stu mate, we did it.
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We did it Stu mate, we did it.
Yes, that one’s for you, Stu.
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Stu featured in the half time tribute last night to those we have lost this season.
I missed this game as was looking after the kids, did anyone happen to
capture the image of him in the screen?
[EDIT - sorry just found the thread, will go watch the video, thanks)
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Happy birthday mate.
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Not sure I posted this before about Stu, I don't think I did. Anyway I was thinking about him today so I thought I would share. He made it a point to, where possible, only employ Villa fans on his team. It got to the point where there were five of us, 6 including Stu, and one very lonely stripey fan (who I'm sure he kept around for the pisstake) in the old Legal & General counter-fraud team of 9. The team is still dominated by Villa fans on a plurality basis and the stripey moved on elsewhere.
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A much missed and great mate.
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A year ago today. Can’t believe how quickly that time has passed.
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Indeed Richard, it's still high on impossible to get my head around. RIP mate. 😥
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It seems like last week when I got the text from Joe. I still expect a phone call any day.
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Not sure I posted this before about Stu, I don't think I did. Anyway I was thinking about him today so I thought I would share. He made it a point to, where possible, only employ Villa fans on his team. It got to the point where there were five of us, 6 including Stu, and one very lonely stripey fan (who I'm sure he kept around for the pisstake) in the old Legal & General counter-fraud team of 9. The team is still dominated by Villa fans on a plurality basis and the stripey moved on elsewhere.
Apologies Stu but only seen your post now. Thanks so much for sharing and providing a big smile on my face, especially today. Brilliant stuff and sounds typical of him, the sort of thing many in his position would joke about but he actually delivered. Keeping the Albion fan was just the cherry on the cake.
FTA has taken on a whole new level of significance this past 12 months.
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I was in touch with Vicky yesterday. They're doing as well as you could hope for even though, as she said, the list of things Stu would have moaned about keeps growing.
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It's fitting to put this here. The Swiss Cottage is closing.
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I’ve done a flag for Stu to take to Wembley because the trip wouldn’t be the same without him - so look out for it.
Anyone who is on my fb and has better IT skills than me is welcome to put my photo of it here. x
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It looks fab. What a lovely idea.
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(https://i.ibb.co/4ZVz68Xb/FB-IMG-1744999027996.jpg) (https://ibb.co/4ZVz68Xb)
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Thanks Leeg!
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I've put it on our FB as well.
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Ah lovely!
I thought about it, and then it got to the other night & I realised I wasn’t going to get it on time unless I did it quick. I ended up doing it really late at night and I didn’t find it easy. It’s actually come out better than I thought it would!
They said 2 days to print and 3 days to deliver, but it’s literally arrived less than 2 days after I ordered it!
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A lovely gesture Amfy, you've done him proud. 😪💔
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Excellent. Well done amfy, we will look out for it next Saturday.
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Weird. I only knew Stuart as a poster here, but this afternoon I found myself thinking about him and his loved ones. And then I see this.
A timely reminder to appreciate what we have in this life.Sigh.
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That's brilliant.
FTA.
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That's great.
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That’s excellent.
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That's beautiful, Amfy. Gold Star!
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Brilliant Amfy
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What a great idea, Amfy! We have so many memories of Stu before and after Wembley games, going back to 2010.
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Wonderful idea amfy.
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That's brilliant and a great touch Amfy.
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Great work Amfy.
Hopefully I'll be able to get a photo of it on display tomorrow.
A Facebook memory popped up a few days ago which included a brilliant response by Stu and gave me a chuckle
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I didn't know him either but that really is a lovely thought.
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Gutted the Swiss Cottage is closed for tomorrow. The flag on show there would have been great.