Gem that's a lovely post in a time for you that I can't even begin to imagine.
My heart aches and smiles for you in equal measure. For all the good times the two of you had and for those times that you shared with the rest of us. I remember watching Nellie actually asleep in the middle of a munch in Manchester the first time I met him. Comfortable with his surroundings and with his friends and most of all with you. You seemed so together and there was so much laughter before he fell asleep! and I hope you remember the good times forever.
Nellie was a massive part of this community in all the years I've known you both. From the political ranting to the things that just meant something to him. He was never afraid to speak his mind regardless of who he was batting off. He had many admirable qualities and I'm glad to have been his friend and him mine.
Things change, time moves on and we all have different things going on in our lives but through all of that the people who matter have remained in contact and when there are tough times we all pull together. I'll be here whenever you need me. You know that already though. You're a special sort and I know how difficult the coming weeks, months, years will be for you without Neil but your friends will support you. Whatever you need, you just have to ask. I love you lady xx
I can't believe it, that's really sad !! We knew Neil from loads of events in the NW and later on at various friends parties.
Every time we saw him Little Gem was there, they made a great couple. Can't remember that last time we saw Neil, must have been 18 months ago. We'd expected to see him at the SH 10 year do at Xtasia, know he had his name down, but he never made it.
R.I.P. Neil
Immensely saddened by this news for the loss is great for many. The world was improved by him being on it. If I could be half the humanitarian free thinker he was i'd be a better man than I am. Lots of love to you Gem and to those around Neil feeling it the most. RIP Neil you will be missed
Jay & Scott xxx
I am so sorry for your loss Gem.
There were a few people on here that I greatly respected even though I not met any of them, and they were the members that was Resonance and Neil, Losty, Max and Rob and of course me old mucker GnV. I respected Neil and his wit for a very long time, as many will know and remember me as 777. Yes the cat could be out the bag, but to be fair virtually everyone knew anyway. It matters not a jot now to be honest.
I feel for your loss because he sounded like a great guy, and one of the very few on here at least that I respected immensely. As 777 and now Star i have been on this site for years now I have known him and had a few battles with him on here, but he always answered with care and a real compassion. Me I just go into a debate with my size 10's but Neil was always a very calming influence. I will miss him greatly on here, and offer you my total condolences. xxx
:upset::upset::upset::upset::upset::upset::upset:
I'm in shock - RIP Neil - a great Forumite. My thoughts are with you Gem at this time.
Paddy
I have seen a few depart the forums for whatever comes next, none have saddened me more than this loss, a worthy antagonist for me, fair, honest and respectful in his replies and advice to me, I will miss him and feel for you too.
Where do you begin?
How can we do justice to the wordsmith who was Neilinleeds?
Neil made me laugh, made me think, made me smile and, way back in the beginnings of my time on SH, made me welcome at a pre-Munch drinks in Manchester. I looked forward to his posts, knowing that they would make me chuckle or ponder or, at times, reconsider my entire way of looking at an issue.
He was a rare breed. He had wit and banter aplenty, but he also had real intellect and integrity too.
My heart goes out to you Gem, and to his family. I cannot imagine the pain.
Big love.
xxxxx
What a terrible shock! I'm so sorry to hear this news. Love and condolences to you Gem.
There are very very few members whose posts I have admired as much as Neil's. In all the memorable hilarious episodes on these forums he was a key figure. There are so many great posts of his I remember and admire - even one I've never forgotten which he deleted the next day! To my regret I never got a proper chat out of him at munches, though I tried. But his genuine warmth in here, directed at individuals, even to me, was something to treasure.
May his memory be honoured.
RIP Neil.
For once, I'm lost for words.
I never knew NIL personally but I had immense respect for what he said and the incredible way he was able to put it. His capacity for taking the heat out of a heated debate and returning it to a form of sanity is legendary.
A great loss. :upset:
I only ever knew Neil through these forums but he was a member that I had the utmost respect for. His postings were always wiity and thought provoking...and he was a fellow Leeds fan to boot!
I am so sorry for your loss Gem and my condolences to you and and all close to Neil.
i can't say how gutted i am to have never have meet him
i dueled with him many a time, even shocked him once so much he was compelled to send me a pm when all i did was wish him well
gem your loss is the greatest but in a way i envy you for the great wit he had and fun that Neil must have been to be with
thoughts and love to you and Neils family
So very shocked to hear this news. My heart goes out to you Gem, and Neil's family. He was a lovely man and with a few bloody decent brain cells too. I keep crying, then chuckling. I can't imagine how painful this is for you, and that makes me cry some more. Big hugs and lots of love xxx
I only met Neil briefly at a munch/social once.....but remember him more for his great contributions to the forums.....always showed he was compassionate and caring about the world and the plight of others.
they say " Only the good die young " ....and in this case, it is very true !!!
Thoughts are with you Gem.....and RIP...Neil.
My sincere condolences to you and Neil's family.
He was a joy to have in the forums - funny, articulate, caring and really amusing (did I say that?). I loved to read his posts, always interesting and informative.
My thoughts are with you - love and big hugs x
Regards
Anais :sad:
What can I say, except that I am still in shock.
Wish I was logging in here after the longest time, for better reasons. This is the worst of reasons. I simply can't imagine what his family are going through, and Little Gem, anything you need, just ask. Us Old School may have all gone our separate ways, but there is a bond that time will never take away.
So many memories of Neil, some funny, others absolutely hilarious. The munches, the parties, the mad times, the absolute best of times. Neil was central to that part of my life that has long gone but is remembered with fits of laughter. I will always consider him a honourable member of the North West Best, even if he was from Yorkshire :-p
What I remember, love and respect him for most though is the depth and passion that he could put to any subject that he cared about. Fiercely intelligent and one of the most articulate people that I have ever met, his serious posts were insightful and never failed to make me think just that little bit more.
An absolute one in a million, this is a tragedy.
I have no other words that could possibly do him justice. A clever, passionate and beautiful person taken far too soon. Sleep well my friend, I hope you have found peace xxx
RIP xx
I'm going to miss the 'witterings' and funny posts.
Remembering the munches / socials/ parties / BBQ's where I met Neil, had a drink, laugh and such like.
Gem if you need anything let us know.
I'm stunned to hear this news. After following his forum missives for many years, Neil was someone I always aspired to meet in person. I was sure our physical paths would cross at some point, and I was convinced we'd hit it off immediately. It's times like this that show you just how shite life can be, but at the same time it reminds you that the world is full of truly great 'ordinary' people.
Neil, you'll be sorely missed, but never forgotten. Rest easy my virtual friend.
Sad and shocking news. RIP
I woke up this morning and am still in a state of shock. I cannot make any sense to it.
It's been such a long time since I visited SH but after hearing this news last night from friends, I felt I had to pop in to express my shock and dismay. A fine man gone too soon. My deepest condolences to you Gem and to all who had the privilege of knowing Neil, either through socials or through the forums.
Bazza. XX
Sorry and sadden to hear this news didn't know you really well only met in the early days too.. Neil R.I.P. Gem our thoughts are with you too Xx
Just to add to what I have already written.
You really should make hay whilst the sun shines. My regret now is that I never got round to expressing my piece de resistance which I had rehearsed in my mind many times and was just waiting for the moment... Which now, sadly, will never come.
It went on the lines of "you're just a willy, nilly" :mrgreen:
All in the best possible taste of course and I'm sure it would have been given the appreciation it deserved from such a great humorist who we all held in awe and in great respect; one who could invariably dish it out with far greater subtlety and panache in a way far exceeding that which any of us could ever aspire to achieve.
A rare breed indeed.
It played a massive part in our early lives together with us flirting around the forums and the mIRC chatrooms before we had even set eyes on each other. We joked about it in years come as I had a really rubbish username at the time (ok, not much better now, some would say! :P ) and he remembered it that night in Adam & Eve's after the North West Munch. We used to use our favourite emoticons in cards to each other, emails and notes with only us and fellow forumites knowing, like our own little secret code. 
My heart swells with joy, and now the deepest sadness, to think of those happy times. I'm devastated. My life will never be the same and I can't tell you the hurt I'm feeling but it seems wrong to post in here without a streak of that beloved humour I will miss. I can hear him laughing like a drain at me editing this over and over! 
ops: 
:love: :inlove: Thank you my darling one, you were my everything. :inlove: :love: 
assionkiss: :rose: 
xxxx
Neilinleeds: legend. 
