Mark Eaton (Redline) - RIP
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....
Re: Mark Eaton (Redline) - RIP
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.
Re: Mark Eaton (Redline) - RIP
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.
Re: Mark Eaton (Redline) - RIP
Re: Mark Eaton (Redline) - RIP
Very sad, and a great club member and contributor too. Mark will be missed.
Re: Mark Eaton (Redline) - RIP
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.
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Re: Mark Eaton (Redline) - RIP
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.
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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.
Re: Mark Eaton (Redline) - RIP
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
Re: Mark Eaton (Redline) - RIP
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.
Re: Mark Eaton (Redline) - RIP
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