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Vale - Douglas Hockly

Wendy

8-Jan-2021
12:03:37 PM

You may have heard over the past few years that Douglas had become increasingly disabled by a degenerative brain disease. He had been living most of last year with full time carers. He became unexpectedly ill over the xmas period and chose to have palliative care over active treatment, dying peacefully with his mother and sister at his side on Wednesday. He will be coming home to be buried in the climber's corner of Nati Cemetery.

Douglas organised an early wake last January whilst he was still able to travel and see his community for what we expected to be the final time, and it was. The hall was packed with people celebrating his life. We joked about how if there was life after death, he would have to come back and haunt me to let me know. I'll let you know if he turns up.

ajfclark

8-Jan-2021
12:47:22 PM

IdratherbeclimbingM9

8-Jan-2021
1:10:05 PM

On 8-Jan-2021 Wendy wrote:
>You may have heard over the past few years that Douglas had become increasingly
>disabled by a degenerative brain disease. He had been living most of last
>year with full time carers. He became unexpectedly ill over the xmas period
>and chose to have palliative care over active treatment, dying peacefully
>with his mother and sister at his side on Wednesday. He will be coming
>home to be buried in the climber's corner of Nati Cemetery.
>
>Douglas organised an early wake last January whilst he was still able
>to travel and see his community for what we expected to be the final time,
>and it was. The hall was packed with people celebrating his life. We joked
>about how if there was life after death, he would have to come back and
>haunt me to let me know. I'll let you know if he turns up.
>
>

Thank you Wendy for updating us on Chockstone.

I knew he was crook but this news coming via an unexpected source to me (Strava), this morning, was still quite a shock.

Although I didn’t know Douglas as well as many others, we still had sufficient overlap that I regarded him as a good friend.
I appreciated his community engagement evidenced by such things as Nati Goatfest and fun things he was integral to like the Henry Barber climbs re-enactment commemorative days.

On Chockstone I appreciated his dry humour that came through regularly during his 435 posts contribution to us that covered a wide range of topics from guidebook production, bolting issues, Goatfest, Nati Cafe, Brawling at Araps, Doco on Australian climbing - Barber to Gullich, and also his serious insights / thoughtful nature evidenced by such posts as;
http://www.chockstone.org/Forum/Forum.asp?Action=Display&ForumID=1&MessageID=35503

We will miss him.
Rest In Peace duglash.

climberman

20-Jan-2021
6:19:46 PM

Oh Wendy this has caught me out.

I met Dug in Thailand a lifetime ago - he was camped at Tonsai while my ex and I were there for many weeks, always a smile and laughter, we stayed friends after he returned from the States. Later in the Blue Mountains he worked alongside folks we knew (incl my now-partner). We corresponded rarely but always with a smile.

Some tears and some contemplative thoughts.

Julian

Stugang

21-Jan-2021
3:18:58 PM

Oh gosh that has really knocked me for six. So so many fond memories of climbing with Douglas and hanging out in the pines ... in the dirt and heat and ants in summers from mid 80s and early 90s when we were young and full of excitement for the future.
Glad he had a good “wake” and condolences Wendy I hope you’re ok.

Whippet

29-Jan-2021
8:01:41 PM

So sad to hear of Douglas’ passing.
I’ve got many fond memories of sharing a rope and a chat with him in the 90’s is the BMs.
What a great person, too young to be gone.
RIP.

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