Man down :-( RIP Simon F Barnes

That’s very sad news, one of the real characters of early STW, how old was he Rich ? Can’t have been much older than me 😳

@crazy-legs some nice pics on his Flickr, he has a sister iirc?

Shit! RIP Simon
I met him a couple of times in an access advocacy capacity whilst trying to get Lancashire Country Council interested in upgrading more of it’s footpaths to BWs. I’ve moved to Canada since and have no idea whether Lancashire has improved it’s BW provision.
(IIRC, Lancashire had one of the lowest BWs provisions in England)

Frankly, Simon wasn’t much help in an advocacy capacity cos he’d just carry on riding FPs anyway! 😃

I seem to remember that Simon also had a keen eye for photographing female club riders arses as well, which prompted various lively conversations on here! 😃

I fondly remember some of the arguments and definitely the photos.

RIP Simon

Sad news, as with a lot of others I enjoyed the photographs.

Another here who was wondering only recently how he was getting on. I knew he’d had health issues requiring care and wondered if he was perhaps improving but sadly not. RIP Simon and sincere condolences to family and friends

Arse.

A proper STW character.

Dusty trials fella.

Sorry to see this. I remember reading his threads when I first joined the forum. Ride on SFB.

I met him a couple of times. A real character and I enjoyed his contributions on here. RIP SFB.

RIP Simon. Had many a ride with the Bogtrotters pre 2010. Simon the photographer, (who always seemed to find a stream or river to cross) could usually be spotted lurking near water waiting for some unlucky rider to take a plunge. He took two of me, one on Skiddaw & the other in the Howgill Fells.
He certainly led the charge for cheeky riding with many an argument on here.

Was a leading light in the forum when I first came on in the mid noughties. Seemed to do a lot of good work and always well thought of.

how old was he Rich ? Can’t have been much older than me

.@stevemakin – he was 67.

RIP chap 🙁

Missed his presence here over the last few years since his disabling health issue. Rest in peace Simon. Ride free.

Sadly missed – rip SFB. Swapped the odd email about routes and once bumped into him / had a chat up by the fox in Grizedale. Funny how STW means you “know” people before you meet them.

I had the pleasure of joining Simon on the majority of the Saturday social rides between (iirc) 2001 – 2012.

His eccentric & affable character won friendship & respect from everybody that met him.

The last few years must have been unimaginably difficult for somebody who previously spent all their free time in the great outdoors enjoying life to the full.

Rest in peace SFB.

JC

Very sad news indeed.

☹️ fondly remember his posts and photos from way back. Nabbed loads of cheeky routes/trails from him.
Ride in peace Simon

Not much to add but to echo what has been said above. He added a lot to STW and seemed to be a proper rider to the core. RIP

Rest in peace. Legend.

Poor Simon. What a shame.

RIP Simon.

Yeah I reckon reading his stuff on here opened my eyes to the wider access issues (aka cheeky). RIP dude.

Rip sfb

RIP SFB.

I never rode with him but knew of him and think he worked near me. He always wore shorts no matter the weather. I’ll be wearing a pair tomorrow in his honour. RIP SFB

Rest in peace. Having been on here since 2004 it feels weird knowing people by user-name and reputation only, but feeling grief for them. Shows how important the place and its people is I guess.

Shit news. R. I. P

Crap news to wake up to this morning. He was part of the fabric of this place back in the day and although I never met him it sounds like he was a great person who will be missed by many. RIP Simon.

I’m sorry to hear that. RIP Simon.

I’m another who remembers Simon fondly from years back.

Sad to hear this, he was one of the old guard when I came here years ago.

A real character on here.

🙁

Terrible news, very sorry to hear that.

Sad to hear, have to admit i don’t remember him that well, been so many bad ones over the years, RIP

Sad news, fondly remembered for photos and ability to wind up just about anyone.

RIP

Sad news, RIP. I remember him well from years ago when all this was fields..

Sad news, RIP Simon

Used to look forward to his regular photos back then.

Met him once years ago when the girls were very young. We were riding back up Walna Scar and he was up near the top shouting words of encouragement to them. He recognised us from posing on here and we had a chat

He even got a cheeky shot of my bum as we climbed past.

RIP SFB.

Proper original STWer.

I shall go for a ROW-agnostic ride with a massive rucksack as tribute.

As many above, I remember him on here from back in the day.
RIP Simon

Sad news, RIP Mr Barnes.

Damn. Sad news.