It was with great sadness that I learned of the passing of long time Nelsonica team member , and friend , Duncan Noons yesterday. It came as a great shock, as I know it will to all members of the team and those that knew him. Duncan was a lovely man and a loyal supporter of my music, always kindl and thoughtful and a great help on the N elsonica merch stall for many years. Much loved by us all, my late Mother always said how much she liked Duncan too. He always made a fuss of her when she came to a Nelsonica event. I can see Dunc vividly in my mind as I type these words, and hear his distinctive voice also. I sspoke with him last year' at the Nelsonica team's annual dinner, get together, along with the other team members. I had no idea that would be the last time I would see him.
'Big Dunc' as he was affectionately known by the team, will be deeply missed by all of us in the Nelsonica family ...Thank you from my heart for all your help and support over the years Dunc, you won't be forgotten. Maty angel guitars sing you to your rest....
🎸
Just learned of this. RIP Big Dunc.
He always made me feel welcome at the various gigs I've been able to attend.
'Pod.
Sorry to hear this .I first spoke to him in about 2002 at North Ferriby.Always said hello when I attended the concerts.I last spoke to him autumn 2019 at leeds.I think he mentioned he had not been well.My thoughts with his family.
I only met Dunc once, at Nelsonica 2010, I think (or possibly one of the two before) and we had a lovely chat for around ten minutes. He was very welcoming and kind and seemed a really warm hearted person and I liked him straight away. I happened to mention, semi-jokingly, that finding a copy of 'The Alchemical Adventures Of Sailor Bill' CD would really be the icing on the Nelsonica event cake for me, and he replied, 'Well you never know, stranger things etc', something along those lines.
A little later, when the merch-stalls opened and I got to Dunc's section, he smiled and pointed to no less than a CD of, yes you guessed it, TAAOSB, which made us both laugh and, ofc, I snapped it up. Apparantly it was one from Bill's private stock, along with a few other random items and I also managed to snag a Household Gods / Heros De Lumiere T-shirt, happy days!
Although I didn't know him like some other people attending, and ofc the Nelsonica team, that will always be a fond memory for me. I like to think I'm a good judge of character and 'Big Dunc' certainly came across as a top gent, condolensces to his family.
This is such sad news.
I met Dunc at the very first Nelsonica event in York in 2001. I got chatting to him and his wife at that time, and we seemed to gel and stick around one another throughout the event. As well as a shared passion for Bill's music we were both Black Country lads (although his accent was a lot stronger than mine!) and loved football - Dunc a big West Bromwich Albion fan and me a Walsall fan. He had another link to my home town as he had been a tutor at Walsall College.
At each subsequent Nelsonica I would find him manning the merch stalls and after Eddie or Jon had let me in, he'd be almost always the first person I would go and approach and have a chat with and also my go-to guy to talk me through all the t shirt, posters and CD options for me to open my wallet for. 🙂
We'd keep in touch by occasional text and some years ago he said he fancied coming to a football match with me, so he came to see the mighty Walsall play Swindon. Probably not the standard he'd have been used to watching regularly as a WBA fan but we had an enjoyable afternoon combined with some time to chat about music and Nelsonica events.
Dunc was a lovely, kind and generous guy and I am struggling to digest this news. I can only offer my condolensces to his family/friends and am sure all those who got to know him through our common bond of Bill's music will be experiencing similar thoughts.
RIP Dunc.
Adam
Just seen this notice about Big Dunc, I had the pleasure of chatting with him at many of the Nelsonicas and Bill's live gigs over the years. Always a friendly word and often sold me more items than I planned to buy. Rest in peace, Dunc.
RIP 🛐
Very sad to hear of Duncan's passing. I only met him ever so briefly at one of the Nelsonicas, but he seemed to be a genuinely good person.
Ive just caught up with this. Very sad news indeed, Dunc was always the first person I sort out whilst in attendance at The Nelsonicas events. He will be truely missed,condolences to his family
I was fortunate to meet Duncan at Plectronica. He was so kind and generous. Made me feel at home and part of the team instantly. Sending much love and best wishes to all my Nelsonian family!
Rip : he was indeed a vital and integral part of N'elsonica and it had put him on thé map and will truly be missed.
Hello guys would it be possible for one or two of you to upload a picture of Big Dunc to refresh our memories of him in action at a Nelsonian Event THANK YOU
Very sad news indeed. It was always a pleasure talking with Duncan at every Nelsonica meeting. A true gent. You will be missed. RIP 🌟
This is indeed sad news. Big Dunc was always a sunny and smiling presence at Nelsonica and other events. I could always count on Dunc to find me in the crowd and come over to say hello and chat a bit, making me feel welcome. I can't say I knew him well, but I did count him as a friend, and someone I looked forward to seeing whenever I ventured across the pond to a Bill Nelson gathering. He will be sorely missed.
I never met Duncan but I feel as though I have after reading this lovely tribute to him.