... PETE HINCHLIFFE ..

It is with deep sadness that I have to report that Pete passed away earlier today.

I have no more details, but I am sure that many of you will know that he has been unwell for some time and had been receiving hospital treatment.

Sad news, I only 'knew' Hinch from his posts on here, he seemed a remarkable and genuine character, - a good one. Thanks very much for letting us know. Condolences to his freinds and family on the loss.

Very sad to hear this earlier. Only met him a handful of times but he was very funny and insightful.

I have been in touch with Charly through Facebook, who yesterday informed me that Hinch was gravely ill and not expected to live out the day. Came as a bit of a shock as I was in touch with him myself not a fortnight ago and he never (typical Hinch) intimated that things were anything but alright.    Hinch was instrumental in setting up this web-page following the demise of the RO Forum in the hope that the RO followers would like a page on which to discuss and express their opinions regarding matters local and international.
I don't know where we go from here as the last two times the 'page' required funding I helped provide the wherewithall. But perhaps we can discuss that at some later stage.

Meanwhile if anyone has details of the funeral and his family, perhaps they would be good enough to post them here for us to see.

Sad news like this requires something better than I can provide. I first met him in 1965, he was D.J'ing at the Rochdale Fire Station and, although leaving Rochdale in the 80's, he was one of the first contacts I had with the town again with the advent of the Internet and social messaging. I think the guy was a 'star'. A bit too left wing for my tastes but genuine in his beliefs and social justice forays. Today is a bad day. We will be no better for the loss.  People like Hinch come only too infrequently. R.I.P. xx

I would also like to add my thoughts about Hinch.

I too only ‘met’ Pete through the RO forum but became a pal in the flesh so to speak with regular visits to the pubs in Castleton.

Our plans to stand as Monster Raving Loonies were curtailed when Pete had his operations, his knee one.

His devotion to social justice and socialism in general brought us together even more and then to find out about his railway interests and part ownership of a steam loco, luckily he saw the loco ‘in steam’ early last year, meant our friendship was sealed.  

I also had the great pleasure of arranging a get together, again through RO, with 2 of Pete’s school and teenage friends, Lore and Pat Watson,  who unbeknown to Matron and I had not seen Pete for many years, the reunion in the Blue Pits was very special.

I will miss Hinch’s larger than life presence and his very keen sense of humour, I did not know for years that Aqualung on RO was Hinch, and I still weep with laughter at his ‘scribblings, but he did let me know he wrote opinion articles for Ro as Mr Hargreaves, I think that was his ultra-ego.

Our heart felt sympathy goes out to Peter Hinchliffe’s family and, and in this case it is true, we will not see the like of our mate Hinch again.

God love you mate I’ll miss our sessions.  Salty.

Well said Salty. Nice to hear from you. Good to know things are OK with you. Keep in touch when you can.

I remember the name 'Aqualung', but not sure which poster it was. Was it the very funny Carribean type lady?

Yes.

It was Hinch using his talents to portray a little Afro-Culture into the mix.

I have to say it used to drive me up the wall trying to decipher some of it. But it added 'colour' to the proceedings.

Much appreciated.  For all the sunshine here in Wales it has been a cloudy week for me. The void Hinch leaves (and that is substantial) will takes a huge amount of filling. In this day and age and as things are I doubt it can be done with anything like the tenacity and wit Hinch gave it. So sad - - -.