Bad news. FAO Yorkies and associates.

I've just heard. blue_condition has died suddenly. The funeral is on 24th October - 2pm at York Crematorium.

Pete Fenelon was one of the most enthusiastically rude bastards I've ever met. And I mean that as the highest compliment - he maintained a thoroughly curmudgeonly demeanor, but underneath it happened to be a really good bloke, with an encyclopaedic knowledge of early computers, real ale, Formula 1, curry, strange music and French actresses.

I'm never going to forget the random times that, as the campus bars kicked out, he would sidle up and ask whether 1) I had my car on campus and 2) I fancied a curry. This was usually followed by rounding up suspects to get in the old estate and hammer it across to Bradford to The Kashmir, for a midnight curry.

That, and the time that I lost control of the car coming over Fylingdale Moor, hitting loose gravel at 40, having been to watch the sun rise on the longest day. Bringing it to a halt, just short of a deep ditch which would have flipped the car, and between two large boulders, we got out to hyperventilate somewhat. Pete's cheerful response helped me with my nerves as we shakily resumed our journey.

So this weekend, get yourself a curry, put Half Man Half Biscuit on the stereo, Betty Blue (or Formula 1) on the TV, and raise a glass of something real to Pete. I'm now heading to the takeaway. In the meantime, I think Mitch Benn's John Peel tribute, A Minute's Noise strikes the right kind of tone.

EDIT: More details, including about the funeral on steer's LJ.