It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing earlier of modelling buddy and weathering guru Mick Bonwick. The official announcement is here:

 It is with great regret that we have to announce that Missenden Railway Modellers organiser and weathering tutor Mick Bonwick has died. We are sure all those who have attended our events at Missenden Abbey, met Mick at various model railways exhibitions or interacted with him via our virtual events will share in the sadness that his family and those involved with Mick feel at this time. All of our thoughts go out to his wife Ann and the rest of his family.
 
Chris Hopper

I had the good fortube to meet Mick several times and found him to be the definition of a gentleman. Warm, approachable, knowledgeable and more than willing to share his skills.

He was even generous enough to praise my own humble efforts namely the Penhayle Bay layout and my own weathering work describing the latter as “among the best”. An accolade indeed from a master in his field.

RIP Mick. Condolences to family, friends and modellers alike. We have lost one of the best.

I don’t believe that Mick was ever a member of YMR but nevertheless he was very well known to many in the hobby through his involvement in running weathering and scenic workshops at Pendon and Missenden as well as demonstrating weathering at many exhibitions. There will inevitably be some members on YMR who will have benefited from Mick’s experience somewhere or other.
Mick was also one of my regular operators when taking Much Murkle out to exhibitions. He and I became close friends following my attendance at one of Tim Shackleton’s weathering workshops at Pendon a few years ago. Mick was helping Tim on the day and we got on straight away. The following year MIck took over from Tim and the rest is history.

Mick was one of those very rare expert modellers who gave his time and knowledge freely to all in a humble and endearing manner. Indeed this may also have been his major failing. As a talented modeller he spent much more time helping others than working on his personal projects and it is only recently that he had decided to concentrate more on his own layout. Unfortunately he left it too late.

He will be missed and remembered fondly by all those who had the good fortune to make his acquaintance and those who were fortunate enough to considered him a friend.

his involvement in running weathering and scenic workshops at Pendon and Missenden as well as demonstrating weathering at many exhibitions

His tutorials are also preserved at the Accurascale website.

  This was shocking news for me, as I had an email from Mick just two weeks ago and my response had not received the expected reply. Very un-Mick like and sadly, I now see why.
   
  As Nick who knew Mick well has said, he was not a member here, so many YMRC members will not know him, or even know of him. Mick was active on RMweb and his weathering blog has always provided excellent reading and inspiration, as well as a constant reminder of the sage adage while actually weathering a model, of ‘less is more’. Mick always reminded you that it’s easier to add more weathering than take it away.
   
  I feel privileged to have met Mick and begin to get to know him and I was looking forward to our next meeting later this month.  He was a true gentleman with a ready smile and a quick wit, as well as being a natural teacher, who taught me so much in previous Pendon courses, as mentioned in my ramblings.

I always think of Mick whenever I pick up my airbrush, the same model as he used in fact and he gave me the confidence to use it without doubt in my new found ability of enjoying a productive and successful session.
   
  I will miss him very much and feel for his loss to his loved ones.
   
  Farewell dear friend and may your joyful spirit continue to live amongst us in friendship and respect forever more.
   
  Bill