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There was a gathering at Sandhurst to mark the passing of military historian and wargame iconoclast Paddy Griffith, who died earlier this year.
Extracts from Television's Game of War were mixed with memories and evaluations from colleagues and friends, both past and present.
Genevieve Griffith spoke of family life, and holidays that turned into battlefield walks and impromptu games ... Richard Carwardine spoke of the Oxford years, Paul Harris of his long association with the Royal Military Academy. Andy Callan spoke of the origins of WD, and John Curry of Paddy the wargames author. We were played out with 'Paperback Writer'.
On behalf of the Society of Ancients, I was pleased to announce that the Committee had awarded Dr Griffith the 2010 John Westwood Trophy in recognition of a unique contribution to military history and to historical wargames and game design.
We all send our best wished to family and friends at this time of loss.
A fuller tribute and citation will appear in future issue of Slingshot.
I have included a series of links to various Griffith memorial events (here, on my 20th century blog) ...
THE LAST JOURNEY OF PADDY GRIFFITH 1947 - 2010
It all passed off appropriately.
Sober and respectful, but with touches of characteristic irreverence and humour.
I had travelled up to Manchester to offer condolences on behalf of the Society of Ancients, and to share a few moments of reflection and reminiscence with friends, family and fellow enthusiasts. The formal stage was a humanist service with reflections from family members together with some memories and precis of Paddy the Historian and Wargamer from Tim Cockitt.
Paddy drew together a very wide range of contacts - John Dewienkiewicz, Tim Gow, Andrew Grainger, Jerry Elsmore, Andy Callan, Chris 'The Doormouse' were amongst many paying their respects ...
I spent some time over a coffee and a drink talking to former Slingshot editor Ian Greenwood, with whom I have had little contact since he dropped out 20 years ago. Ian was very much a Griffith disciple, and brought many of Paddy's wargaming or historical challenges directly to the Society's readership. Controversial though some of this was, Greenwood's characteristic mix was what re-engaged me with the Society and its activities (indeed, it was Ian and former President Roman Szwaba who first suggested I should allow my name to go forward in the Committee elections of 1988 ... that's another story, so they say - and a very long one).
Ian is well, still teaching, and on good form - as indeed were most of the veterans and old friends - and although he has seldom wargamed publicly since his replacement as Slingshot editor, he continues to mix Wargames with Cricket as activities for his pupils ...
I first met Paddy through the SOAC events Ian organised at Knuston Hall (a series of sort of Ancient and Medieval COWs that ran on well into the 1990s, latterly with myself and Ian Russell Lowell at the helm). Paddy's often sprawling games were full of ideas, if, sometimes, brilliant and annoying in equal measure. It is impossible to imagine wargaming the way it is today without the great jolt it got, called Paddy Griffith. And without the initiatives he launched and the inspiration he gave, it is impossible that I would have developed the circle of much valued friends and accomplices that have kept me going over the last 20 years.
Our sympathies and support go to his wife, Genevieve, son Robert, and their families.
I understand there will be a more comprehensive and inclusive memorial event organised in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, we mourn the passing of a unique enthusiast and indefatigable friend. Someone who made a difference.
See also ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddy_Griffith
http://theminiaturespage.com/news/318431/
http://wargamingmiscellany.blogspot.com/2010/06/paddy-griffith.html
Obituary: The Times, 9th July, 2010 (p.66)
