@HTPBDET

Well. Blimey. Somethings just aren’t right, and @HTPBDET not being around for the Big Five-Oh is surely at the top of that list.

I very often disagreed with Geoffrey (as one or two of us good-naturedly dubbed him, back in the Guardian days – I can’t remember who coined it) but you never doubted the presence of a true fan – not a Hard…[Read more]

@HTPBDET, my thoughts and condolences are for you and your family.

Your writing here showed the enormous tenderness and love you have for your family. That love doesn’t die.
Their love for you is shown in how they reached out to friends of yours they (and you) would never meet; it was shown in changing wedding plans so you could all be together.…[Read more]

@HTPBDET, family and friends.

damn.

now I’m really crying.

read the tributes.

still need to collect myself before posting something more cogent.

I am SO, SO, SO glad he got to see his son and the McGann boy married. How achingly bittersweet. How much I wish I had been able to do something to make their wedding day one of celebration rather…[Read more]

Just read the sad news about @HTPBDET, my heartfelt condolences to his family and mini HTPBDET(s).  Although I’ve temporarily reverted to a lurker again, I always enjoyed reading @HTPBDET ‘s posts which were so beautifully crafted and thought out.

It truly is tragic news about @HTPBDET today. Before this forum was ever formed he was one of the posters on the Guardian that I always enjoyed reading when I used to lurk there. His opinions were always strongly held and, even if I didn’t always agree with them, he always had good, clear reasons for them.

I was overjoyed when he signed up over…[Read more]

Very sad news. It feels strange to be talking like this about people one has never met, but I suppose this is one of the wonderful things that can only happen on the internet that doesn’t get talked about enough in the age of “trolling”. This quite genuine outpouring of respect proves that you people have built something beautiful together. It is…[Read more]

@Phaseshift– absolutely, and that is what made this forum, from the start, absolutely not the gaggle of Moffat/Smith fans stamping their feet and shutting down any debate that it has, on occasion, been represented as on the Dan Martin blog by (one presumes) non members on a troll.

@HTPBDET‘s posts were always interesting, articulate and thought…[Read more]

I’m truly sorry to hear such sad news.  My thoughts are with @HTPBDET ‘s family.  I’m glad he got to see his son and that McGann boy get hitched and best wishes to the both of them.  I hope today’s posts provide them all with some insight into the respect, admiration and affection which those of us on this site held for him.

@HTPBDET, your in…[Read more]

Very saddened by the news regarding @HTPBDET.

For anyone reading who doesn’t know, the site was born directly from the desire of a number of enthusiastic posters on @DanMartinUK ’s excellent Guardian blogs, which started in 2010 with Matt Smiths inaugural series. It’s a bizarre thing, and may be the first time a community has ever developed from…[Read more]

Just read the sad news about @HTPBDET. My thoughts are with his family.

Nobody was as eloquent and could move us like he did time after time on this forum.

I shall remember him when watching Dr Who old & new.

Rest in Peace.

@scaryB, @JimTheFish, @WhoHar, @shazzbot, @craig, @all,

The more I think about @HTPBDET‘s wonderful posts on this site, I am also reminded of his erudite and civilised contributions on the Guardian site. For that reason, I hope @DanMartinUK hears of his passing. While @HTPBDET‘s posts are easy for us to access and re-read, it would wonderful if…[Read more]

A couple more thoughts on the subject of @HTPBDET –

I am really proud to have been a small part of the creation of this site, which provided him with both the inspiration and the sense of security to create his historical and very personal blogs about growing up with the Doctor.  The rest of our ramblings may never amount to more than a heap of…[Read more]

What terribly sad news about @HTPBDET – my condolences to his family and everyone here.

Just logged in and the first thing I see is the incredibly sad news about @HTPBDET.  Gutted. Am writing this through tears for someone, who although we never actually met, I felt I knew well and looked forward to “meeting” on these boards. As others have said above, he was the best of us.

Lou Reed said – “There’s a bit of magic in everything.  A…[Read more]

I am so very sorry to hear about @HTPBDET. His writings on Doctor Who were truly inspirational and heartfelt. Everything that has been said about the spirit of the “Enthusiasts” who share their thoughts on this site was exemplified by @HTPBDET. He was the best of us. He will be sorely missed.

Just logged on from here in Aus and read about @HTPBDET ‘s passing.

His writing about DW and other matters was always so personal and so full of wisdom and knowledge that it was a joy to read.

I remarked to him once that a post he once made about the loss of his sibling and how his Grandmother used Patrick Troughton’s regeneration to help him…[Read more]

@HTPBDET – my condolences to your family. I’ll miss you, though we never met in person. You were a great person to debate with, both on the Guardian blogs and then here, on this forum.

I hope we entertained you, in your last illness. I know, from your posts, that you were surrounded by a loving family. I’m glad that you were able to see your son…[Read more]

I’m so sorry to hear that, but glad that @HTPBDET could see his son’s wedding.

My thoughts are with the family.

I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of @HTPBDET.

It was always a joy to read his articles or wild theories on here! He conveyed a great sense of wisdom and respect and it’s a rare thing that somebody on the internet can do that. I only knew him from the beginning of this year but it was an absolute pleasure and privilege to do so.

His absence will…[Read more]

Oh no! What terrible news @Shazzbot ! My condolences to @HTPBDET s whole family.