[shark]

Stef Gallagher - Sheffield based climber and former five ten rep. Lovely guy

https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/off_belay/stefan_gallagher_-_rip-749081

I received the following from Mo Overfield over the weekend, who wanted to share the message on UKC, as he - much like I  - suspect that there'll be many who knew (or had come across) Stef over the years.

“This morning I heard the very sad news that Stefan Gallagher had been found dead by the police last night at his home. I don’t have any details, but it seems certain that his passing would have been a result of his struggle with alcoholism. Stef was well known in the Sheffield climbing community and was a regular at the Foundry. He was a super keen climber and photographer and lived for his days on the hills.

Those that knew him will remember his quick wit and his sense of fun, all topped off with his Geordie accent. He was a truly excellent guy, and will be missed by many. The world is a poorer place without him.

These brief, scant words do him no justice, but I wanted to let people know of his passing, and if others want to write more below, then please do so.”

My own experiences of both working and socialising with Stef were universally fun filled, as he had a big smile and an energetic character, coupled with a keen sense of humour, which made him an entertaining person to be around.

It's a great shame and a huge loss to hear of his passing and I've no doubt he'll be missed by many - including myself.

[Johnny Brown]

Ah shit. Lovely fella, did a lot for the Sheffield boardsport scene too, running Slide on Division St for many years.

[lagerstarfish]

I was sitting in the garden thinking about Stef when a whole family of newly fledged wrens came tumbling out of the hedge.
Stef would have loved that.

[Wood FT]

That's really sad. Rest in peace, Stef.

[Turboman]

Such a shame. He always left me grinning or laughing whenever I bumped into him. Gonna miss the guy. RIP Stef.

[andy popp]

Hells Angel founder Sonny Barger - https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2022/06/30/sonny-barger-hells-angels-dead/

(paywalled)

[seankenny]

Newspaper paywalls are pretty porous, so if you want to read the life and times of America’s top outlaw biker, which obviously included a range of merchandise, wines and yoga alongside the more traditional meth and murder…:

https://archive.ph/2022.06.30-123630/https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2022/06/30/sonny-barger-hells-angels-dead/

[Wil]

...if you want to read the life and times of America’s top outlaw biker...

Hunter S Thompson's Hell's Angels is well worth a  read, available as a pdf online if you search.

[jwi]

Hells Angel founder Sonny Barger - https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2022/06/30/sonny-barger-hells-angels-dead/

(paywalled)

good riddance

[mrjonathanr]

See for yourself. Berger has beef with Thompson after the book is published.

[remus]

Marcel Remy, father to the prolific Claude and Yves Remy has died. He was still climbing well in to his 90s!

https://www.planetmountain.com/en/news/alpinism/adieu-marcel-remy.html

[mrjonathanr]

Not sure if this is the best place to put it, but re Barger and the Hell’s Angels, this documentary of Altamont in 69 shows the disintegration of the 1960s ideal. RIP the Hippy dream.

[mrjonathanr]

James Lovelock.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/27/james-lovelock-creator-of-gaia-hypothesis-dies-on-103rd-birthday

[mrjonathanr]

[Andy F]

Nichelle Nichols, Lt Uhura in Star Trek. An amazing life, persuaded to continue in the role by Martin Luther King Jr. Role model, activist, heroine.

[andy popp]

I've just seen on Andi Turner's FB page that Doug Moller, Lord of the Roaches, has died. Andi reckoned him to be somewhere in his very late 80s. I'm sure the name means nothing to most here, but a true legend of the Peak, and a good friend to climbers (once he'd got past the chasing them with an axe stage).

[shurt]

I've just seen on Andi Turner's FB page that Doug Moller, Lord of the Roaches, has died. Andi reckoned him to be somewhere in his very late 80s. I'm sure the name means nothing to most here, but a true legend of the Peak, and a good friend to climbers (once he'd got past the chasing them with an axe stage).

That's sad Andy. I loved the odd story I could glean from guidebooks but sadly never climbed at The Roaches when he was living at the house. Well before my time.

Is it true that he responded to someone stranded soloing Elergy begging for a rope by dropping an old  of rope down the crag next to them?! It wasn't attached to anything of course...

[danm]

Back in the 80's my mum used to go to the Roaches regularly, running personal development courses for British Gas and Royal Mail apprentices. Sometimes the youngsters could be hard work and be a bit macho and cocky, which she would solve by asking Doug to do his axe routine, which would terrify the living daylights out of them and get them in order sharpish. She'll be gutted to hear he's gone, she had a real soft spot for him.

[andy popp]

I've just seen on Andi Turner's FB page that Doug Moller, Lord of the Roaches, has died. Andi reckoned him to be somewhere in his very late 80s. I'm sure the name means nothing to most here, but a true legend of the Peak, and a good friend to climbers (once he'd got past the chasing them with an axe stage).

That's sad Andy. I loved the odd story I could glean from guidebooks but sadly never climbed at The Roaches when he was living at the house. Well before my time.

Is it true that he responded to someone stranded soloing Elergy begging for a rope by dropping an old  of rope down the crag next to them?! It wasn't attached to anything of course...

I believe so. Buried somewhere in my memory is the idea that it was Phil Burke - but seeing as he was supremely competent and bold that seems unlikely.

[Neil F]

It was Phil.

But the story gets better.  When Doug realised someone was in peril - Phil may have shouted for help, I don’t recall - Doug shouted up reassurance;-

“Hang on Ron - I’m on my way…”

 

[andy popp]

Thanks for confirming Neil. And now you mention it, I remember that line about Doug thinking it was Ron. There used to be a lot of rivalries back then but I don't know if there was any between Phil and Ron.

I know things between Doug and climbers got off to a rocky start, but by the time I, Nick Dixon, Al Williams and others became locals in the early 80s things were much better. He was extremely protective of his wife, Annie, and they certainly faced misunderstanding. I don't know if he came to see climbers as having their backs in some way. Perhaps he also appreciated climbers as outsiders? Anyway, I would say we all became friends of sorts and enjoyed very many long conversations with him; even got invited into Rock Hall once or twice.

[steveri]

I do remember a friendly chat with him describing beta in a sort of stage whisper for my and possibly the guy actually climbing’s benefit.

[webbo]

Thanks for confirming Neil. And now you mention it, I remember that line about Doug thinking it was Ron. There used to be a lot of rivalries back then but I don't know if there was any between Phil and Ron.

When you name a route Gillted after your girlfriend Gill has gone off with Ron.

[andy popp]

Right! I'd completely forgotten about that. Being mistaken for Ron can't have gone over well. Then again, he wasn't in much of a position to argue.

[remus]

...

Is it true that he responded to someone stranded soloing Elergy begging for a rope by dropping an old  of rope down the crag next to them?! It wasn't attached to anything of course...

I believe so. Buried somewhere in my memory is the idea that it was Phil Burke - but seeing as he was supremely competent and bold that seems unlikely.

From the horse's mouth.

Dougie was quite a complex character and once over a cup of tea in Rock Cottage he explained that when he and Annie bought the cottage it was as an escape from the everyday world. They’d first visited in winter, not realising the area was a honeypot must visit destination and hence his initial aggression. He also probably saved my life, when soloing Elegy I hadn’t realised the top delicate last few moves where green and wet. Made one upward move too many and started to slide, but I couldn’t reverse for the same reason. I’d started contemplating a fall out zone, when I spotted and shouted to Dougie, who ran round to the top and lowered me the end oh his wood bundle rope. One quick pull and I was up, so thank you Dougie! At the top I thanked him profusely and he replied “Any time Ron”. Ron and myself both lived in Buxton at the time and so climbed there a lot, sometimes soloing together and Dougie often mixed us up.