RIP Big Daddy Wayne

@HatBeard many thanks. via PM i already have one lined up but may take you up on that too and see if I can get the crew I am rolling with to snipes up in honour. will get back to you.

i remember wayne facilitating (did @stelle say he always had fingers in a lot of pies) the sale of my old Monoc track frame back in 2008. it wasn't for him but for a mate but he lined up the sale and i took it over to his in putney with a minimum of fuss. of course i had stripped it down but being a cowboy had only given it the most cursory clean. loved being there in his flat drinking a quality joe and following his lead used his quality degreaser to get it sparkling before he passed it on.

he was a man who did it right.

I can only echo everything that has been said here previously.
It's so sad to think one of the most genuinely lovely people has left us.
RIP Gaffer

Hi all, Ricky Sampson from CS Grupetto has asked me to post this here, as he's not a member.
This was the first post in a thread on the Grupetto Forum about Wayne.
For those who don't know Ricky, he was co-founder of Grupetto, and Wayne's best friend.
'Best friend' doesn't really cut it, he was more like a brother.

This isn't what I thought my first post for some time would be.
The past few days have been some of the hardest Sarah I have ever had to endure. When I started calling people on Saturday morning I realised just how many lives Wayne had touched (and changed) both inside our little club, the wider cycling community and the design world. I decided that I wanted to make sure all the people who were important to him heard the news either from me or by other friends in the club. The list was so long that even with your help I'm still letting people know today. The response from everyone has been at first total shock, and then an outpouring of grieve followed by a desire to rally round and check on others and see how they could help. It really is a special club.

It sounds cliched but to have the club constantly calling and visiting has really been a comfort, Wayne was truly lucky to have you all as friends.
If it wasn't for Wayne we wouldn't have made the friends we have, we wouldn't have ridden in Europe as a club and the bars of Ghent would have been a little bit poorer. The club is one of Wayne's greatest legacies but the thing he should he most proud of is the lasting friendships we have all made.

I feel honoured to have known him, there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for you and was always, always there for me, even if it was a massive inconvenience for him. He seemed to always put me and club before himself. I'm proud to call him my friend, my best friend.

I know he could be difficult, he was stuck in his ways and wouldn't budge on occasion, but when you knew him like I did you couldn't help forgive him these little traits because he cared passionately about us all and the club. He always wanted the best for his friends – even if his friends thought differently. He stuck to his principles and they made him who he was.

I miss my friend, I cann't stop thinking about him and what we will never get to do now he's gone. I know that in time I'll start to remember the good times, start to celebrate the things we did together but for now all I can do is selfishly mourn what I have lost.
I have known Wayne for over 18 years and not two days would pass without us either talking about silly things or sending silly texts. I miss the silly things, I want them back. I miss my friend

I'm not sure what's going to happen over the next few days and weeks but as soon as I have news I'll let you know but please keep posting, it means a lot to us.
With love to you all
Ricky and Sarah

:(

Thanks Arvy.

^^^ That pic gets me every time since Wayne left us.

I am very much going to miss you Wayne, our phone chats and you getting annoyed with my dithering.

Lovely message @stelle. Spot on.

Ah stelle, that is a beautiful post.

It's much how I feel, and in fact I feel somewhat shamed that I haven't made more of an effort to say hello to people and tell them how much everyone means to me. It's so easy to carry a feeling of love and friendship for people and to be bogged down by life and fail to let them know. I know, for sure, that the deep regard I hold so many people on here isn't something I've really expressed. I've been really upset by Wayne departing, and likewise I know I'd be equally upset should others here leave us.

It should almost be a call to arms... we who care so much for each other, should stop being lazy fuckers and make more of an effort to bump into each other, cross-paths, say hello, have a drink perhaps, a ride, a chat.

Perhaps we could start with a ride... a memorial ride, but more a wake. Is there a weekly Grupetto CC club route that could be co-opted one Saturday for a big group ride at a relaxed pace and everyone remembering Wayne whilst re-igniting the bonds between us all too.

Maybe that's a question for Ricky, @Zed, @dommyracer and others

+1

Hell yeah.

We've started having conversations about memorials etc. and how best to give Wayne a tidy send-off, and think a ride open to all his friends should definitely be part of it.

There will of course be a funeral, details of which will follow as soon as it's worked out, this is mainly being organised by Wayne's sister but we have stressed the importance of a large enough venue for the main service.

There may well be another memorial, just trying to work out options and scope / size etc.

We'd also really like to have an evening based, more 'lubricated' affair... we're certain he would've at least wanted that!

I think to know Wayne was to aspire to be like him. He radiated kindness and generosity and charisma and i can't imagine he made an enemy in his life. What would Wayne do? That is a maxim that would make the world a better place.

I would definitely try to come down for a memorial ride.

best use of a printer and glue ever . Loved those memories.

+1 to a memorial ride. That feels very fitting and a great way to catch up with many old forum faces during this time of reflection.

+1. the man would have loved it. And it would be so comforting to wave that troublemaker goodbye together.

Ha brilliant!

Mee too somewhere. I also must have the T shirt somewhere too!

a big group ride at a relaxed pace and everyone remembering Wayne whilst re-igniting the bonds between us all too.

Yes

a big group ride at a relaxed pace and everyone remembering Wayne whilst re-igniting the bonds between us all too.

Yes

+squills

+1 That sounds amazing

Such terribly sad news. Too young and too bright a flame to go out. The many tributes on here and Facebook are testament to that. RIP Wayne.

I can't believe this sad news. Wayne was always a true gentleman, generous in spirit and warmth in wit. Condolences to friends and family.

It's much how I feel, and in fact I feel somewhat shamed that I haven't made more of an effort to say hello to people and tell them how much everyone means to me. It's so easy to carry a feeling of love and friendship for people and to be bogged down by life and fail to let them know. I know, for sure, that the deep regard I hold so many people on here isn't something I've really expressed. I've been really upset by Wayne departing, and likewise I know I'd be equally upset should others here leave us.

It should almost be a call to arms... we who care so much for each other, should stop being lazy fuckers and make more of an effort to bump into each other, cross-paths, say hello, have a drink perhaps, a ride, a chat.

Perhaps we could start with a ride

That's very poignant and perhaps a sad fact of the tech life we live. We feel connected digitally to many more people than would be possible to maintain analogue relationship with. The forum has been a good mix of virtual and real though.

A ride is a great idea and beer (rum?) both of which are core things for many of us on here.

...in

Needs a quality cake stop.