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Goodbye Bernard!

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nigel benson:
Hello everyone,

This morning I had an email from the organisers of the Knebworth and National Glass Fairs to let me (and others) know that, to our great sadness, Bernard Cavelot has passed away.

He was a consummate member of the GMB and always wanted accuracy with anything to do with glass history and identification; he also had an in depth knowledge of publishing that he shared when helpful to others.

He and I often had lively discussions about glass, sometimes on the GMB and occasionally via email which enhanced our mutual respect and I, amongst many, will miss him, both on these boards and meeting up at fairs.

A few fairs back he came up to me with a parcel and said "You seem to be the Hailware man, so here's something that may help your research." He handed me the parcel which contained a Hailware lampshade. How very kind, but typical of the man. He would do anything to help forward knowledge about glass.

At Knebworth recently, there was a breakage on his stand while he and Janet were packing. A sad event, which he took badly. It obviously affected him, particularly as it was a piece of Walsh Walsh that he'd only seen two examples of. After a bit he came over to me (our stands were diagonally opposite each other) and suggested that perhaps he should send the pieces of this rare piece to Corning in order that they could analyse the shards to work out the chemical composition. It was his way of making the best out of a rotten situation, and I considered that it would be both cathartic for him whilst also realising that it was also a generous thought.

I am very pleased that or last conversation was positive and will be a lasting memory of a well thought of glass man.

Bye, bye Bernard

Lustrousstone:
My condolences to Janet and Bernard's friends and family. We didn't always get on, unfortunately, but it is very sad to see a life cut short.

chopin-liszt:
My sincere condolonces to Janet and the rest of Bernard's family.
I'm stunned and shocked. He will be sorely missed.
He was a completely unique, larger-than-life, character.

keith:
So sorry to hear this I was hoping to meet him one of the days, deepest condolences to his family.

bOBA:
Having only chatted to him once or twice in person, not enough to say he was a friend, I still admired the unchanging precision of Bernard and his commitment to the history of the glass he admired, irrespective of fashion. His threads on the GMB reflect this informed, unstinting enthusiasm.


Robert (Boba)

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