I was truly saddened to learn earlier this week that Duncan had passed away suddenly over the weekend.
Here is the announcement from Dan at Wargames Illustrated.
It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of Duncan Macfarlane.
Duncan was the original owner and editor of Wargames Illustrated, creating and publishing the magazine for the first time in August 1987, after having previously been the editor of Miniature Wargames.
Duncan passed away suddenly but peacefully on 28 May 2021, aged 73. He will be sadly missed by all those that knew him, and those within the hobby that didn’t have the good fortune to call him a friend will doubtless be aware of the debt of gratitude owed to him as both an innovator and stalwart of wargaming.
A full and proper obituary to Duncan will be forthcoming both online and in the pages of Wargames Illustrated magazine.
So long Dunc, thank you for all the memories.
Dan Faulconbridge
Current Wi Editor
I first got to know Duncan when I moved down to Nottingham in the early 1980’s he had previously been the manager at Citadel Miniatures so we tended to move in the same circle of friends.
I well remember going round to his book filled house in Newark and doing a stint of ‘sky holding’ while he took pictures of our toys to use in the magazine.
Duncan was an amiable soul who made friends easily, the last time I saw him was in the pub after work not long before the lockdowns started… he was chatting away to a couple of people as if they were old friends… it turned out that he had only met them about 15 minutes beforehand.
Strangely enough before the call came through I had just been looking through some old copies of Miniature Warfare magazine where I came across a couple of articles by the man himself… I am fairly certain that there was only one Duncan Macfarlane…
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| From 1969 |
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| From 1972 |
Indeed there could only be one Duncan MacFarlane.
ReplyDeleteVery true David
DeleteSadly missed. A lot of people who knew him will have a story or two to tell.
ReplyDeleteYes I suspect there will be many a tale to tell..
DeleteHard to imagine what our hobby would be like today without his influence. Sad news day.
ReplyDeleteWe certainly have a lot to thank him for.
DeleteSad news indeed. First man willing to encourage me by publishing me. Only met him for a quick greeting at Historicon one year but a big influence on me as on so many others.
ReplyDelete(Also a little unsettling when I realized tgat he was only 7 or so years older than me!)
I was also surprised - always looked on him as being much older than me.
DeleteLike the rest of us… he was young at heart
DeleteTricks has posted a lovely obituary over on The Partizan Show Blog…
ReplyDeletehttp://thepartizanshow.blogspot.com/
All the best. Aly
Very sad news, Duncan will be missed.
ReplyDeleteHe will indeed Paul…
DeleteI didn't know Duncan, but I love Wargames Illustrated and appreciate all the great work he has done for the hobby. RIP.
ReplyDeleteHe was a fine fellow… and will be missed
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