The latest news on TMP is that Donald Featherstone, 'the father of modern wargaming', has passed away.
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| Donald Featherstone R.I.P. (this is a still from a Youtube video featuring the Don) |
I cannot do justice to the influence that this man and his writings had on me as a wargamer. He had a marvellous turn of phrase and his rules always hinted at the idea that wargaming was fun and the old school spirit of 'do-it-yourself' was all throughout his works.
Together with the late Charles Grant senior his books were my first introduction to wargaming as a teenager. the first of Don's books that I purchased was
Battles with Model Soldiers.
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| Formative influence and all that |
As I discovered wargaming in my early teens in the late 80s,
Featherstone's Complete Wargaming was contemporary with me and inspired me more than any other wargaming book. I still look at it often.
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| A very, very pretty book. |
Several of Don Featherstone's books are on my shelf, not just wargames books, but history like
Bowmen of England and
Colonial Small Wars. He is a never-ending source of inspiration, and I guess there are thousands of people around the world who feel the same way.
Thank you for everything that you have given me and so many others, sir. May you rest in peace knowing that you have touched the lives of so many people.
Nate
His works form a section of my library and so I count myself fortunate in that I can always seek his advice somewhere.
ReplyDeleteLike many it was discovering his books in the library at a very young age that fostered my interest in wargaming and history. I always enjoyed his books because they never overcomplicated things and were a pleasure to read.
ReplyDeleteA sad day for the hobby, I always loved his Solo Wargaming book in particular.
ReplyDeleteIf immortality is measured by the lives you touch, he will indeed live on for many years to come.
Rest in Peace, Don. A fine post, Nate.
ReplyDeleteA sad news, indeed. Featherstone influence got as a far as to Ecuador in the seventies. I met him in a Harrisburg wargaming Convention in 1989.
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