Rest In Peace, Geoff Winnington-Ball

Mark W. Tonner · #1 06-12-10, 04:12

Your duties done, the day as ended, Rest in Peace Geoff . . .

cliff · #2 06-12-10, 05:34

well mate this is how I will always remember you...

Waycool · #3 06-12-10, 06:08

Deepest condolences RIP Geoff.

S!

Hanno Spoelstra · #4 06-12-10, 16:37

I only just read about Geoff passing away and I am speechless at the loss of a great friend. Yesterday, at the time when Geoff must have been in his last moments, I was given a new CD of my favourite band. I think the song Seventh Heaven sums up what Maple Leaf Up meant for Geoff.

The photo below was the last one I took of Geoff. It shows him next to the De Havilland Tiger Moth DH82C at the Canadian Air and Space Museum, Toronto. This is the type of aircraft his beloved father, Arthur W. Winnington-Ball, was trained to fly on. Indeed Geoff was born a generation too late, but through his work for MLU and 1CACR.org he ensured the achievements of the generation he felt home at are passed on to future generations. Well done, Sir!

Geoff, vaarwel!

Hanno

Phil Waterman · #5 06-12-10, 17:33

Who would have known when Geoff started MLU and the MLU Forum that followed that he would give so many people from all over Canada and the World such a source of information and enjoyment. The creation of so many friendships, with people we have never met face to face this is what Geoff gave us all.

I sincerely hope that we can keep MLU going, in his memory as his legacy to us. I would truly miss Logging in first thing in the morning to read what my friends from around the world have been up to, and closing my day with a quick catch up.

With a tear my eye Cheers Phil

wim sikkelbein · #6 06-12-10, 18:39

The world lost a unique man. Rest in Peace Geoff.

S LATHERON (RIP) · #7 06-12-10, 23:41

To Geoffs Family and friends and the global community of MLU where ever you are, we will all miss the work that Geoff did without complaint on everybodies behalf. A truly sad day.

Rest in peace Geoff, we will remember you .

maple_leaf_eh · #8 07-12-10, 05:02

The older I get, the more dead people I know. Sorry to hear Sunray has been struck off active strength.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>

On a more pragmatic note, I hope the admins have had a meeting of the minds to keep MLU running and adequately funded.

Michael Dorosh · #9 07-12-10, 05:34

A couple years ago I nominated him for the Order of Canada, the only time I was moved to do such a thing. I didn't think I had a chance of it going through, and wasn't sure how Geoff would feel about such a thing. True to form, I got a high-and-mighty sounding brush off from the G-G's secretary, but I was glad I had gone through the process. My rationale was that the history of our military is not, should not, just be left in the hands of the Ph.D's and "the guv'mint", as Geoff called it, but additionally, the grass roots and the guys who were there in the grass should have their say. I think Geoff demonstrated that, and lived it, beautifully with his work with MLU and especially the Kangaroos. I hope his work here is perpetuated. That would mean much more than silly honours that fellows like Alan Eagleson get and give up.

Oh, when I fessed up about the nomination after running into him in Ottawa on the anniversary of VE-Day, he just chuckled and said "you bugger."

So long, Geoff.

Dean (Ajax) · #10 07-12-10, 10:38

So VERY Sorry to hear this..he has done a lot to keep Canadian Military History alive.
RIP
Dean

Ganmain Tony · #11 07-12-10, 11:18

Had the priviledge of Geoffs company when he stayed at Ganmain during his visit down under. I remember him saying it was "the flattest god dam piece of country" he'd ever seen.

I will miss him and I hope our little community he worked tirelessly to create, survives and thrives. His memory will live on through this wonderful, special little optic fibre world of ours.......

I realise he often said he was born a generation too late, but i'm sure as heck glad he did live in this one or MLU may never have exisited.

He has a wonderful legacy ...... I'll always think of him whenever I visit here.

Farewell Geoff

Harry Moon · #12 07-12-10, 17:45

Sad Sad news. Our prayers of support to his family, freinds and loved ones.

Harry, Claire Harrison and Alexander Moon

Eric B · #13 07-12-10, 19:44

Thank You Geoff for all that you have done for the MV world.

You presence will be missed.

On behalf of the OMVA i would like to pass on my condolences to your family and friends.

Eric B

Editor CMP Magazine
OMVA

Mike Timoshyk · #14 08-12-10, 03:34

Fair winds and following seas as you cross the river Geoff...

Mike Timoshyk

r.morrison · #15 10-12-10, 06:28

Deeply saddened, shocked and as David Hayward said, emotional. I was not much of a forum kinda' guy, but next to Ebay, MLU was my next daily activity.

I had a great telephone conversation earlier this year, for about an hour, with Geoff and talked about MLU and broadening the horizons of the input.

I've enjoyed all the input fellow members had contributed, being wit, wisdom, expertise, connections....just reaching out to a fellow members.

It takes a certain dedication, love of life, self sacrifice or in layman's terms.... "GLUE" to keep it all together....and Geoff was that glue!

To Geoff's immediate family, my heartfelt condolences. And to you all... Hanno, Phil, Salesman Bob,Lynne, David, all of the contributing members. I'm deeply sorry. Robert Morrison (Vancouver B.C.)

Frank L. · #16 11-12-10, 20:54

Geoff,

Thanks couldn't begin to say how much you helped me when I needed it most. You took the time to reach out to me and it worked and I'm better for it.

Rest easy old friend.

Regards

Alex van de Wetering · #17 17-12-10, 15:22

devastating news...Condolances to all of Jif's relatives and friends.

I never met Geoff in real life, but just like some others said....It felt like I knew him from the correspondance through email, on the forum...through the pictures on the forum and the from Keith's year of the Blitz coverage.

For me, the MLU forum is without doubt the best example of what all internet forums and websites should look like.....with a proper and honest policy in the scarce cases it's needed.

Alex

Alex Blair (RIP) · #18 27-08-12, 20:21

It has been a while now since Jif passed on and I would like to honour him and his family by sharing some memories with you of Jif and our all too short relationship...maybe some of the rest of you can share your memories of Jif with all of us..
So now let me start,,\
It is now Monday afternoon ,August 27th..2012...
I can't do a bio on Jif as I didn't know him that long but will share some of our times together..happy times all.

Probably Bruce Parker would be the guy to do Jifs bio.. he knew him longer than anyone.. grew up with him so should be able to give us a fairly good bio.. I just met him when I started the Military Manuals site through George Bradford in Cambridge..
Jif was using my site for reference manuals and told me he was setting up a special site and forum too..
It was to be called Maple Leaf Up...
I thought we should link the manuals site up with the MLU site as I had most of the CMP manuals listed on my site..
He was all excited and gave me a link that only him..Sean,his son,and I could see ..
The day that he opened the forum, we were e-mailing back and forth and he made the first comment on the forum declaring it open then Sean posted congratulating him on the new site.. I made the first Non family posting on this MLU forum and am damned proud of it and proud that Jif thought enough of me to honour me with the grand opening of the MLU forum..
It was much more than the forum and we thought that all the other parts of the MLU main site would be the main interest of everyone including me and him..
How wrong we were..
And then over the years we talked on the 'phone (Remember that thing with the big cord into a box hanging on the wall...??", and burnt up the wires with emails ..
We first met at one of the first gather ups at the Caldwell brothers , Chatsworth, Southern Ontario...
when he showed up with a forty pounder of vodka and Miss Yappy on his Hip..
A great time was had by all ..Jon Skagfeld was there ..Bob Carrier was there.. Stewball was there ..
The Caldwell brothers , and tons of others..
It was the first of 4 or 5 Caldwell gather ups and then we moved on..
Then I met him when he came to visit Ottawa..
I don't think Gracie's was ever the same..
Anyway Jif had a heart of gold ..I miss him and know he is riding high up in the commanders position, in some heavenly rust bucket...He wouldn't have it any other way...
Alex
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Alex Blair