Alistair Ballantine, one of the true experts on British MGs like the Vickers, Lewis, and Bren, in addition to the Maxim, passed on April 01.  This came as a massive shock to me because he and I spoke at length at SAR West in early December 2023.  Alistair was doing just fine then and helped me review a few Vickers guns up for sale.  He simply asked a friend to mind his tables (which were groaning with parts) and wandered the show with me, picking up and opening multiple Vickers guns, pointing out good areas and deficiencies, and offering recommendations.  Dealers and their helpers always started running over when they saw two guys screwing with their transferables.  But once they saw it was Alistair, they just shrugged, waved, and wandered off.  Or they stayed to learn something about their own wares.  Alistair was a wealth of knowledge, was truly respected, and wanted nothing for his time.  He was just happy to help.

Too few of those old salts still around.