They are dropping like flies at the moment

[tikay]

Malcolm "The Rock" Harwood.

A good friend WhatsApp'd me to tell me the sad news that Malcom Hardwood passed away last week. He was 86.

Only the older generation will remember him, think his last "Hendon" was almost 20 years ago.

He was associated with the long-defunct A World Of Poker (AWOP.com) for a while, & in fact he & I crossed swords a few times when we were "competing" to run Live Updates. Neither of us learned how to monetize it though so we both ended up burning money. That was soon history, & we got along fine.

He's perhaps best known for being an early - the first? - to promote Ladies Poker in the UK. He organised a big Ladies Tourney at Star City in around 2006, & then went on to run the BetFred Ladies Poker Tour for a while, which ran for several years.

He appeared on Late Night Poker once or twice, & we were both commentators for Poker Night Live, where I got to know him well.

RIP Malcolm.

[EssexPhil]

The Rock was one of the first people I watched. Saw him play many Single Table Tournaments. Tight aggressive style in those days-incredibly tight. Which worked when most of the rest of the table were incredibly loose, many of whom had no idea how to play.

How times have changed.

[RED-DOG]

Malcome was the only player I knew that was tighter than me. I remember he had a Thai wife that played a much more lairy game than both of us. "Bad Girl" Pham was it? or am I getting confused?


RIP Malcome.

[tikay]

Malcome was the only player I knew that was tighter than me. I remember he had a Thai wife that played a much more lairy game than both of us. "Bad Girl" Pham was it? or am I getting confused?


RIP Malcome.

Yes, a little confused I believe.

Malcolm's wife was a Thai lady, Somkhuan. She mainly played Ladies Poker, which was a thing at the time, thanks to Malcolm & BetFred.

"Bad Girl" Pham (Xuyen Pham) was "Smokin Steve" Vladar's wife, those two, along with Thewy, were all sponsored  by Wm Hill for a while. As it happens, Smokin Steve was as tight as they come, too. He came 2nd in an EPT Deauville sidey in which the FT also featured Dave Colclough (RIP) & John Gale (RIP), the super miserable Ivo Donev who I bumped into in Vegas WSOP event this year, & blonderpoker's very own Craig Wildman, aka "I KNOW IT". 

A little weird to look back on the days when every poker player had to have a nickname.  

You were right about Malcolm being super tight though, he really was, hence "The Rock". Most players were at the time.

[booder]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dickie_Bird

R.I.P Dickie    The best there ever was.

[Kev B]

RIP Malcom. I remember he was a great protagonist of the women's game back in the day.

RIP Dickie Bird. What a character lovely man he was.

[I KNOW IT]

Patrick Murray aka Mickey Pierce of Only Fools & Horses fame.  Sadly passed away aged 68
Pat also starred in few  cult films also including Scum & The Firm

I became good friends with Pat around 20 years ago and he genuinely was a good guy.
England - Las Vegas - Thailand
RIP Pat , you will be missed  x

[Marky147]

Hadn't been on FB for almost a week, but just hopped on and saw the sad news that Kevin O'Connell has passed away.

Was a fixture on the circuit back in the couple years I was grinding live comps. Always good craic at the tables and was Supernova Elite at the bar

RIP Kev, no doubt dusting off the JWs up there already!

[Sheriff Fatman]

This one is a bit of a shocker, as Sky News are reporting that Rob Reiner and his wife have been found dead with stab wounds at their home in LA.

You'll most likely recognise him if you've ever watched This Is Spinal Tap, which he directed and appeared in, and he also played Leonardo Di Caprio's dad in The Wolf Of Wall Street, but he also directed many iconic films, including Stand By Me and A Few Good Men.

Reports say that police are questioning a family member, but it's a developing story.

[RED-DOG]

It's a strange world Curtis.

[booder]

It's a strange world Curtis.

Nah,i dont think he was in that one Tom.

[tikay]

It's a strange world Curtis.

Nah,i dont think he was in that one Tom.

oof, very good indeed Boo.

Now get back in your loft & play some music.

Any Christmas plans?