Russ Montlake-Mees aka KRYTEN

[Markvh]

Very very sorry to hear this sad news. He was so helpful and humorous in the brief time he was on the forum whilst I was new to it. I'm sure he will be sorely missed.

[staggering]

This is very sad news. The few times I met Russ he always had such a great outlook on life, always humorous and so very helpful in my early years of Stag paranoia.

One thing that still makes me chuckle is when we were at one of Bobs Brands Days we were at Paddock bend with his son and a car smacked into the tyres very hard so much so that you couldn't tell what it was - I said "what is it ?" to which Russ said loudly "F**ked" - the people round us all laughed.

Russ will be missed by our Stag community obviously but my condolences and thoughts go to his Family at this very sad time.

Ian

[Bob Heritage]

I've known Russ for many years now and he frequently joined us on different events, Brands Hatch, Le Mans Classic etc. .We knew he was unwell at Christmastime but thought we would have more time to get together, but unfortunately this as not meant to be. .He will be sadly missed both as a friend and club member, RIP Russ and condolences to Nicola, Hanna and Cameron,

Bob

[SaskStag]

Bless you Russ, a wonderful, friendly, knowledgeable Stag mentor to me. You will be sorely missed, by me, but especially by your family
Tanya

[Rincewind]

Only just caught up with this sad news, as others have said a man generous of heart. Mind, he always called a spade a spade!!
When I was looking for a wind break for my Stag he suggested a couple of hard top side windows made a suitable alternative, he then gave me a couple and made up some stays while I was standing on his drive. Eight years ago he did a full strip down and rebuild on my engine and gearbox, he had the heads off within a half hour of me arriving!! ( I was nervous about what he would say about the Webber but after the build he just commented that it meant it didn’t need any tuning). He did a quite a few mods and updates to both engine and gearbox which I appreciated.
When I was taking the engine away he said it was fully tuned and would start on the button, due to circumstances and a lack of enthusiasm it has only just gone back in, but true to his word, even after eight years it fired and ran beautifully on the first turn of the key - true genius.

https://youtu.be/ABMo2EamsCg?si=a9XzgF3bX02wajK_

This a video he posted on YouTube of him testing it.

RIP Russ

[Kevin Garrod]

Very sad to read this news today. I can only echo the comments above. RIP Russ.

[Rubce]

Sad news indeed regarding Russ. When i joined the forum in 2008, Russ was the first person to welcome me. His knowledge was superb and the Forum and magazine have been the poorer since the his departure from.the club. I miss reading about the adventures of the "Pea and the Pod".

My condolences to his family.

Bruce

[Snakey]

This is very sad news. I enjoyed some bantering with Russ on the Forum a long time back, particularly of his love for Paul Weller. RIP Russ you were Ace.

[Goldstar]

Evening all.

I have had the notification regarding Russ’s funeral. It will be held at Woking Crematorium on 6 March starting at 1100hrs followed by a reception at the Brooklands hotel.

I’ll be going along with a few other reprobates to celebrate our mate’s life. I’m sure that Nic, Cam and Hannah would love other stag mates to attend should they so desire. If you do intend to attend would you be kind enough to let me know so I can let Nic know just for numbers.

So far it’s me, richardthestag, koy23, seaking and Milothedog.

Last word to Russ, who I suspect had a hand in writing the foreword to the funeral notification

Russell Lawrence Montlake-Mees shuffled off this mortal coil peacefully at St Georges hospital on the 30th January 2024. He was far too young to get on the cart and still had far too many people left he wanted to annoy. He was a wonderful human being and will be missed beyond words by so many and not just for his uncanny ability to fix anything.

Paul

[Goldstar]

We (me, KOY 23 richardthestag Arbman Al Stagdad stagmuffin Bob Heritage Seaking Ian(Milothedog) Graham (Staggard) Alan Davies (the gauge shop) and Ian Banks joined approximately 90 friends and family to bid our farewell to Russ yesterday.

It was a fitting and moving service with some beautiful eulogies to our friend. Fittingly, his coffin was painted in Java to match his car - a nice touch he would have thought of himself.

There was a reception, again fittingly, at the Brooklands Hotel where we held a minute of noise, a rut of revving stags to say our final farewell. Video here courtesy of richardthestag filmed by Seaking https://youtu.be/FIHM0saKjvI

[Paul Kelley]

That's a right proper send off, well done!

[DJT]

Sorry I couldn't be there. R.I.P. Russ.

[Dave M]

Haven’t been on the Forum for a few years now but reading that Russ had passed prompted me to log in. As others have said Russ was a fountain of knowledge re Stags and most other vehicles for that matter. He helped me out when I had carb issues on a Commer Camper. Understand it was his funeral yesterday and he was given a great send of by family and friends. RIP Russ, God bless.

[Ian F]

Sorry I couldn’t make it, but it looks like Russ was given a great send off! RIP Russ with that Stag burble reverberating in your ears!

[RobinLegin]

Wonderful send off. I remember his encouragement when I first got into this Stag ownership. Having a few issues with the Alvis he even thought he may be able to help there too. A most generous soul. May he rest in peace.