It is with the deepest sadness that I learned tonight of the passing of Lee Maxwell after a period of illness.
Lee was a fine man; Happy, carefree, good natured, enthusiastic, friendly and great company. He was a gentle giant who just gave off a fantastically nice vibe.
Together with Graham Cummings and Gordon Mclean they gave the wargaming community inspirational games on fantastic terrain and did it with the friendliest and most down to earth attitude.
I was personally inspired by them particularly in the early days of my flirting with the LoA period. Their Battle of Boyne game featured in Wargames Illustrated in the mid 1990s had me running for my reference books to identify the units crossing the river! It was my benchmark game. If I achieved anything near to that I knew I would have arrived.
Their memorable games are legion but I recall in particular The Boyne, the ACW game with the scratch built ,Ironclad in 28mm and their D-Day game with Churchills in the teddy bear cornfields.
I gamed with Lee, Graham and Gordon doing Blenheim and Neerwinden over weekends which were the precursors to the LoA weekenders we now run.
Duncan Macfarlane christened them the Teesside Triumverate. Alas, we've lost Lee and two soldiers will have to carry on. I am glad that together with Graham, Lee decided to go 'on tour' one last time and demo with David Imrie at Partizan in September. He didn't look great but the old fire was still there in his eyes. He loved every minute.
Thanks for the inspiration Lee, We'll miss you big Fella.
