Dave Neilan passes away

[geoffpitt (R.I.P.)]

With great regret I have to inform you all that Reading player Dave Neilan passed away in hospital last Thursday 8th December.

He was taken ill last weekend with a chest infection which developed into pneumonia, and he was taken to hospital in Oxford whilst returning from a day out with some friends.
His condition worsened during the week and he sadly passed away on Thursday afternoon.

Dave was a long-standing stalwart in the Bar Billiards community for nearly 50 years spending most of that time playing for the Elephant and Castle in Hurst, then with my team at the Admiral Cunningham when the Elephant team disbanded.
Along with railways, bar billiards has been his main interest over the years and he loved going out and socialising with anyone and everyone.
He was also very keen on trying out many real ales so the two activities went well together. He will be sadly missed.

I’m in touch with one of his old team mates Tony Trevethan and will hear from him when the funeral is arranged, so I’ll pass on the details as soon as I received them.

He believes that the service will be at Reading crematorium followed by a wake at the Elephant and Castle.


Geoff Pitt

Dave's funeral will be held on Friday 6 January at 12:15, at Reading crematorium.

[jordans]

This is news. Dave was a true gentleman and will be sadly missed.

Ernie & Dawn

[NigelS]

I am sad to hear this geoff, a lovely guy and a true gent whenever I saw him....usually in Bournemouth.

Sent from my G620S-L01 using proboards

[barbelman]

Oh what a shame and such news.  Dave was a lovely, gentle chap who kept his interest and enthusiasm in bar billiards throughout the years - he was still a regular at Bournemouth until recently.

He will be greatly missed and my condolences go to his family and friends.  RIP Dave.

Tony

[SirKT]

OMG, this is such horrible news. Dave was such a lovely person, never had a bad word for anyone. I played against him many a time in Berkshire, Inter League and Bournemouth. One of the characters of the Bar Billiard world. How many of you out there remember playing against him when there was a thick layer of pipe smoke hanging over the table. Makes my eyes water just thinking about it.
RIP Dave, the world will be a sadder place without you

[bigtj]

This is terrible news he was a lovely man always ready to chat and pass the time of day. A true gent that will be missed RIP Dave

[David.G]

Shocked and saddened, such a shame, Dave Neilan will will sorely missed by so many of his friends and family.

A true gentleman and staunch supporter of Bristol City, He had a strong passion for football and spent many years following his favourite footy team

Always smiling, never complaining, always talking, never complaining, always drinking, never complaining.

I will miss the wonderful carefree nature that he always expressed

My heart is heavy knowing I wont be seeing him anymore.

My deepest sympathy to his family and friends

RIP Dave Neilan.

[Chris_Sav]

Have known Dave (The Guinness) for very many years, a nicer guy I have not met and am terribly saddened by this news.


R.I.P. Dave

[BB Warrior]

news indeed.

Dave was a true enthusiast of the game and, until a couple of years ago, was one of the very few players that had attended the world championships in Jersey every year since it had started. I am remember chatting to him and the other two (Chris Tupper and Trevor Gallienne) in Jersey a couple of years ago and it was lovely to hear some of their stories about some of the characters in the game from many years ago in the early championships in Jersey.

RIP Dave, your smile, your sportsmanship and your enthusiasm for the game with be missed by all that knew you.

[chellster]

That is really sad - he was a lovely man who always enjoyed a drink and a smile.

RIP Dave xxxx

[geoff]

I am so shocked to hear of this.
He was my team mate at the Admiral every summer, another good guy I won't see again.
He was a quiet motivator too, a good team player.
Indeed up until a couple of years ago he has never missed a Jersey trip...
If you needed to know about anything to do with trains, Dave was the go to chap to talk too...
I will miss him.
G.

[dipper]

Spoke to him many times in Jersey, nice fella, RIP Dave.

[David.G]

I'd like to express my thanks to the following players for their ONE MINUTE SILENCE TRIBUTE at the Admiral Cunningham in Bracknell before their match against Caversham WMC on Monday night (12 Dec) Forming a closed circle with heads bowed was very poignant indeed.

Dave Mitchell, Paul Dorgan and his son, Terry Vallis, Keith Lewendon, Geoff Pitt, Dennis Claydon, Terry Alder, Dave Murrell.