Vincent Related David Hills: Sad News

[Arthur Farrow]

What a shame. Linda and I really liked Dave, who didn't!, and it seems only a few days ago we spoke and shared a joke, but it was probably a few months.

The best I can offer is to get the Black Knight out tomorrow and give it a hammering in his honour. Very sad to loose such a great chap.

 

[Richard_KAR_223]

My friendship with Dave goes back nye on fifty years and in that time he became one of the stalwarts of the Club and was a really kind and generous person who will be so missed by us all In so many ways.
An amazing guy who has provided a real solution to the design of the stands on a standard Vincent which has benefited us all but of course their is much more to be said of his qualities other than that of a engineer. I’ll always remember him with the children at the New Forest rallies who adored him, good bye old friend a good life I’ll never forget. Richard Adams.

 

[Len Matthews]

I'll think of you Dave every time I park my Twin and how much effort you saved me.The stand was a godsend!

 

[Gilli]

Just a little early warning about Dave Hills’ funeral arrangements.

Dave’s daughter Shelley is organising the funeral at a Woodland Burial site, Near East Meon, Petersfield. She has booked Wednesday 19th May, at a time to be confirmed (possibly 1pm). She understands that funeral number restrictions are to be lifted and the venue is mostly outdoor with a covered gazebo.
Due to the location there is unlikely to be a video link.
The distance from her home is about 35 miles if anyone is considering a motorcycle escort.

Address
South Downs Natural Burial Site GU32 1HR

https://www.funeralguide.co.uk/natural-burial-grounds/south-downs-natural-burial-site

She has requested that there are no flowers, but donations may be given towards a Defibrillator for the pub where his car crashed and they tried so hard to save him.

If you would like to attend please let me (or her) know.

 

[Tim Kirker]

I can only endorse all the wonderful comments about Dave already made. But I would pay tribute to one aspect of Dave's contribution to the VOC only briefly alluded to above by John Sayer. And that is the massive contribution he made to the "Drawings Project". Dave was quietly pushing things along before the Technical Committee was formally recognised, when those involved were known as the Gang of Seven. Without his support on the Executive Committee, for the work being done by Frank Griffin, Neville Higgins and the team, the Drawings Project could so easily have foundered, and the Club/Company might never have built the "Project Black Shadow" in 2007. It's easy now to take all this for granted, but the present success of the Spares Company, working with the Club, owes much to the thousands of hours of effort put in by those guys.

I fitted one of the famous stands last year but have never been in a position to try it out since. I'll be thinking of Dave when I finally get the Rap out in the next week or too.

Tim Kirker

 

[Jilly F]

Oh dear. Another sad loss to the club. Dave was one of those lovely people, always happy to help, always there. RIP old friend. We'll miss you

 

[Gilli]

The venue is South Downs Natural Burial site, East Meon, GU32 1HR. This is a woodland site with some steep slopes, but you can choose whether to go to the graveside. Due to Covid transport is not available.

Some sort of wake may be possible but we may have to take turns going inside.

The Burial centre are still giving mixed messages about numbers allowed, although most of the venue is outdoors and they’re hedging their bets until an expected announcement from No. 10 on Sunday!

Dave is now at local undertakers Searsons (in Havant PO9 5AA) and will travel in the motorcycle hearse the 12 miles to the burial site. Time to be confirmed but about 12:30pm. Please let us know if you’d like to join the motorcycle escort.
Don’t wear black (unless you’re in leathers!). This will be a celebration of a life well lived.

 

[Chris.R]

Very sad news, poor Dave. We seem to have lost a lot of significant characters from the Club over the past year.

With the Covid restrictions affecting funerals, I’m wondering whether this is the perfect time to start a new VOC event - “Memorial Day”. Many years ago the Rider’s rally was re-named in memory of Bill Hancock. Obviously we can’t do that for everyone so maybe a general Memorial Day would allow a moment where we all get together in honour of those lost over the year? With a VOC Headquarters now in place, perhaps there may be a spare wall where photo’s of lost characters could be put on permanent display, in which case it would make the most logical venue for such an event? Just an idea or two to mull over.......

That is a great idea and why not indeed there ought to be space for a memorial wall photos and all

 

[clevtrev]

Anyone wanting information about how to find Searsons, let me know. They`re the Undertakers who organised Sheila`s service a couple of years ago.

 

[Graham Smith]

I went to Dave Hills' funeral today, and thought you might be interested in seeing the attached document.