Rest In Peace Aitch

[Rampage]

Sad news appeared on my Facebook feed today:

I've got sad news to pass on to you all today. This weekend Ian Hay AKA Aitch passed away. Ian was a proper old school core airsoft community member, he’s one of very few people who has stuck with the hobby since the early days and kept on working hard for all of us. Although he used to be a very active player, the thing that particularly amazed me about Ian is that his declining health had him confined to a wheelchair for years now, and not practically able to airsoft, and yet he still remained pivotal in running various airsoft forums and building project guns amongst other things! He’s been there supporting UK airsoft players every day for longer than we can remember.

Ian was a vocal member of the community, well informed, considered and always ready to speak out for what was right even when it meant going against the flow. I'm one of many, many airsofters who are eternally grateful for his help and yet never met Ian in the flesh. I've chatted with him off and on since the 90’s, and traded a few guns with him too, but for me personally he stood out as an immediate, and loud, supported of UKAPU when we launched. Ian was always there for me as a sounding board too, a level head for me to bounce ideas off of. His consistent participation behind the scenes and in public helped shape what UKAPU became, as well as the UK airsoft scene as a whole. If you are new to the hobby I just want you to know how important Aitch was to UK airsoft, and if you are part of the old guard, then Ian will need no introduction and I'm simply here to pass on the bad news to you. Please feel free to leave comments below, it'd be lovely if we could pass on some of the communities thoughts to his family.

Next time you brew up in the safe zone, raise a polystyrene cup to Ian Hay, Aitch, fallen comrade; the word legend is oft overused, but here it fits the bill.

Matt

Aitch

[sparrowhawk]

Re: Rest In Peace Aitch

R.I.P. always respected what he had to say on the forums, my condolences to his family

[pugwash]

Re: Rest In Peace Aitch

Very sad indeed, I think I first chatted to Aitch when I got started in 2004. He was a mine of good information and encouragement, a real credit to the sport.
Rest in peace and condolences to his family and friends.

[Boo-Sabum Ben]

Re: Rest In Peace Aitch

Never really talked to him much, but bought and sold a few things to him. Shame

[Fizzy]

Re: Rest In Peace Aitch

R.I.P. Aitch!

Always got on well with him on the forums, since I started back in 2004. Such a shame!

[Ian IWG]

Re: Rest In Peace Aitch

Sad news, my thoughts are with his family.

[seansamurai1]

Re: Rest In Peace Aitch

RIP.
One of the good guys.
Such a shame.

[Darkmikey22]

Re: Rest In Peace Aitch

RIP
Will be missed.

[Beef]

Re: Rest In Peace Aitch

RIP.

[steve grey]

Re: Rest In Peace Aitch

R.I.P Aitch...condolances to his family......

[fish6634]

Re: Rest In Peace Aitch

RIP

Is that the correct Aitch member profile in the first post?

If so it looks like he was airsofting to the end, it says he was online 21 hours ago

[Fizzy]

Re: Rest In Peace Aitch

Yep, that's him

Last online 44 minutes ago. Probably family checking Facebook and such, he's understandably been receiving lots of condolences and such

[HuntR]

Re: Rest In Peace Aitch

Sad to hear. He was a real gentlemen. You don't get many of them these days

[R34V3R]

Re: Rest In Peace Aitch

He was an amazing person to talk too, a wealth of information and a credit to the sport we love.

He will be missed.

*Raises tea cup*

[Wolfgeorge]

Re: Rest In Peace Aitch

Rest In Piece man...
Good and respectful guy!


Wolf