Mark Eaton (Redline) - RIP

[Normb666]

I was greatly saddened to hear today of the passing of Mark Eaton, our club Treasurer and Membership Secretary, who went by the name of Redline on here. Although his son has already posted an obituary to inform us all of his death, I thought it was worth me making a separate thread from a club perspective. I knew a while back about his cancer but he asked me not to make it public, which is typical of who he was and how he never made a fuss.

Mark already had his ListerBell on the road when I first went down to see Craig and Lydia towards the end of 2016. His "Zenith" car had already been in Harrods' window promoting the timepieces, and I heard about Craig bumping into him in Venice while on holiday. Seems Mark's shakedown run was a road trip round Europe.... bloody ell. I'm not actually sure where Europe is!
I met him for the first time the following year while at LB on a visit, when there were a few owners there at the same time. He didn't put himself forward cos he was too quiet for that, although his car definitely wasn't! It was after he'd volunteered to take on the Treasurer position that I got to know him better. Very thoughtful - never spoke until he'd considered something first - but also a very clever fella. And when Carol was stepping down as Membership Gal, he took on that role too, as he thought it was interlinked with the Treasurer thing anyway.

So a genuinely Top Bloke who'll be missed, and who leaves quite a hole in the club. Fortunately, another in the series of Top Club Blokes has agreed to step up to the plate to take over Treasurer duties, and that's David Jowsey, pilot of a rather nice Allora, and organiser of the annual Yorkshire Run. Yes I know we're supposed to have nominations/votes for Committee positions, but we don't have the luxury or time to do that, so David it is. I just hope his arm gets better in time for Crimbo after I twisted it up his back...

The other thing Mark was involved with was the remanufacture of overcentre catches. He was dealing with an engineering outfit somewhere near him, but I think he'd become too ill to follow it up recently. I think I've got their name/address somewhere so I'll try and get on top of it, but if you'd been waiting for news of that, now you know why it went quiet.

So a very sad time, but also an opportunity to reflect and consider the important stuff in life. Which as far as I'm concerned, means if you're thinking about doing something, don't mess about, JFDI!! There might not be a "next year" or a time when your finances are looking better, etc! Just go for it! Now, where are all those wimmin....

[Lancialulu]

I only knew Mark really from “a distance” first meeting him at “Bernard”’s garage meeting, where I poured over his Zenith time piece. He certainly used his car and it was great to see him pilot it round Goodwood a few years ago at the LMC track day. Mark was ever helpful, replying to an email from me only 3 weeks ago. I was not aware of his illness. As previously said - top bloke. Will be sadly missed. RIP Mark.

[STR_Strat]

Such sad news, I got to know Mark on the various member organised drives and at the Santa Pod meet a couple of years ago, there is some footage somewhere of both of us sitting on the line not having a clue what to do (worst reaction times ever). A genuinely nice bloke and asset to the club, he will be missed by all that knew him.
RIP Mark and condolences to his family.

[David J]

Sad sad news RIP Mark

[Stableblock]

Very sad, and a great club member and contributor too. Mark will be missed.

[AndyGuyton]

What awful news!! - Luckily, I got to speak at length with Mark at Santa Pod a couple of years ago. He was one of those chaps, that even having just met him, you felt you'd known him for years. All I can do is echo the above comments...such a loss.

[LOFT6.6]

What sad news Norm. I only met Mark briefly at your Tynemouth bash and seemed like a true gent. Took pics of his Zenith liveried car on Lindisfarne, a real credit to him.

19010

19009

Life can be so hard at times, particularly when it's ripped away from us too soon. Thoughts to the family at this difficult time.

[Stratos Fear]

Yes - I just got back from a few days in Cornwall but while there had a message from his sister who is overseeing his affairs. I had e:mailed Mark a week or so ago asking if he was accepting visitors as I had heard he had been moved to a hospice.

So I was surprised to hear from her just a couple of days before his passing to say that he was too weak to see anybody.

Mark was a great guy and I can say - a friend, who was very helpful and supportive during my build and was happy to spend time with me back in the summer helping with my steering / self centring issues when we installed some shims to reduce the front negative camber. Not only that (and living not too far from me on the South Coast )we would go over to Goodwood to the occasional Breakfast meeting in the Zenith Strat - and this year (as in previous years) to the Festival of Speed. I had bought tickets for the Supercar Car Park and the Stratos had no problems being accepted for this. I recall us being parked in the middle of rows of Ferraris and Lambos - and it was always the Stratos that attracted much attention. Mark very patiently and quite happily would explain to anyone who was interested the story behind the car and Lister Bell's specifically, while I waited (sometimes not too patiently !) for him to finish.
Mark was a great guy who was not afraid to use his car to drive all over the UK and Europe - as was mentioned earlier.
I will miss him greatly.
Peter

[Neil63]

Very sad news. I only met Mark once at Shap Wells, Debbie and I spending a few very enjoyable hours in his company. Our thoughts are with his family.

[Allora#2]

Very sad news before christmas i never meet him but i read all post from him,
my condolences to the family and friends.
riposa in pace, Mark

[Strat Fan]

Very sad news indeed.
As others have said Mark was very private and had we not seen him in August we would not have known there was anything wrong.
We were fortunate to be able to visit him recently and it was good to simply sit and chat about the car and the mini adventures he had had with it along the way.
Mark's history with LB goes right back to the early days & he was one of the first batch of customers to commit to an LB & ended up taking ownership of chassis number 9.
Mark managed to do quite a lot with his car over the 6 years it has been on the road and completed trips to LeMans, Venice & the BOIR event in Castell'Arquato.
His car was instrumental in helping Zenith with their pop up shop in Harrods & on the back of this he was gifted a tour of the Zenith factory along with a photo shoot outside. He subsequently ended up having lunch with Erik Comas on the square in Biella.
On the back of the above he also travelled to Belgium in his car to follow/support Erik Comas during the Belgium leg of the historic FIA rally championship in Ypres.
Back in the UK he managed to do track days at Goodwood & took part in a number of the northern run out weekends arranged by members on here.
Mark went from simply being a customer to being a friend to us as well. We ended up meeting quite a few times socially over the years whether it be at shows, locally to us or locally to him & we even crossed paths with him in Venice whilst on respective European road trips.
A more genuine person you couldn't wish to meet & our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.
Below are few pics of the man & his car whilst on his adventures.
Rest in Peace Mark.
19015190161901719013190141901119012

[Stratos Fear]

Craig - some great shots of Mark and his car . Thanks for this

[Redline]

Dear all,

Mark’s funeral will be held at 12 Noon on Friday 17th December at
Wealden Crematorium and afterwards at the Gun Pub.

We would be grateful if you would like to pass this message on to
anyone who knew Mark and who would like to join the family in our
celebration of his life.

We ask not for flowers but if you would like to make a donation in
memory of Mark, please send them to St Peter and St James hospice or
Pancreatic Cancer UK

These can be made via the funeral directors at the below link:
https://www.brooksfunerals.co.uk/don...oming-funerals (https://www.brooksfunerals.co.uk/donations-and-upcoming-funerals)

Dress code: Smart

Ceremony – Wealden Crematorium, Horam Road, Horam, Heathfield TN21 0FX
Wake – The Gun, Gun Hill, Heathfield TN21 0JU

We would also be honoured if anyone would like to bring their car
along as a nod to Mark.

RSVP by the 10th December to Jasmine –
jazz.eaton4@gmail.com

For those who cannot attend the funeral but would like to watch by
video please let Jasmine know and we can send you a link.

Love Rory, Jasmine, Simon, Paul and Katharine x

[Normb666]

All - I was looking to organise some flowers for the funeral, but the family would rather have a donation. I'll sort something from the club. Individuals may wish to contribute personally.

It would be nice to have a few members go along to show our respects. I'll try and be there, but not sure yet if I can make it. If you're going, put your name on here....

[carol]

Such sad news to hear the sad loss of Mark , our thoughts go out to his family.
R.I.P
John & Carol

[Stratos Fear]

Norm - yes I'm planning on going.
P

[The Slug]

Sadly I have only just heard of this terrible news.
I knew he was ill, but not at such an advanced stage, condolences to his family, friends, and members, who knew him closer than I did.

Our thoughts go to all that knew him, and lives he touched.

Jayne & Ian

[Rotor1]

Just coming back in the chat after a long hiatus. It’s very sad news. :( I had liaised with him for my calendar last year; such a helpful chap. I will miss him too. Sincerest condolences to his family and everyone else here. May he R.I.P. ����������������

[Normb666]

Attended Mark's funeral yesterdayt (17th) along with Phil Dolby ("Bernard" on here) and Peter Cutler (Stratos Fear). It was a really nice, un-mawkish ceremony with lots of tales and info about Mark that I suspect very few people outside his family would know - he seems to have had fingers in many pies! As I said earlier, he was very undemonstrative and never forced himself on others, and yet would help anyone who needed it. I know we'll all miss him, not least in his roles as Treasurer and Membership Sec.

Speaking to his family, it seems that they could well be keeping his Stratos, which I think is rather touching as they said it meant so much to him. They tactfully never said what he thought of the club members though, which is probably for the best.... :)

[Stratos Fear]

Norm - dont be bashful - they were bowled over by the fact that you had taken the trouble to drive all the way down from Liverpool - and with Phil - to attend the funeral.

P

[Normb666]

Yeah, spending a whole day with Phil is a bit of a major task....almost said "undertaking" there....

[westonTB]

Well, I guess you were on the motorway for quite a while... usually someone in an audi I find.

I really hope Mark's family keep, use & enjoy his car, many more miles & lets hope, smiles to come.