Russ Montlake-Mees aka KRYTEN
Evening all,
It is with great sadness that I must report the recent and very untimely death of Russ Montlake-Mees (Kryten).
In his time as a SOC member, he was Jackshaft, dispensing wisdom to members who needed help with the various ailments that befell their cars as well as serving as a moderator here. Russ was also an active member of the SOC South East London area and always helped with the club stand at the Bromley Pageant which achieved best club stand one year beating some who had manufacturers sponsorship. It was mentioned at the time how friendly and welcoming we were, no doubt in no small part to Russ and his technical advice table and a Stag engine on a stand used as a prop. There are many SOC members (me included) who owe him a massive debt of gratitude (you know who you are). He would often drive to them to get problems sorted. He was/ is a member of Club Triumph as well. And if you didn’t know he loved an old Honda, I guess none of us is perfect.
As anyone who knows Russ would testify, he was a car nut from a very early age, which probably accounts for his immense knowledge of all things mechanical. He may well have had 99 octane making up some of his blood, I reckon. In his work life, Russ served his apprenticeship at a local Fiat dealer & won apprentice of the year. He then did a spell as an RAC patrolman before returning to a dealer workshop at the the local Leyland dealership where he quickly became a well-respected foreman.
His technical knowledge of all things engineering related was phenomenal. A mutual friend tells of him scraping the white metal bearings on a 1939 Ariel square 4 engine (pretty rare by all accounts) - he rebuilt the engine on that without much prior knowledge. A few weeks ago he was explaining torsional vibration dampers in radial engines to the same friend (nope, me neither). But to me, what set him apart was his generosity of spirit. He was always willing to help either in person or on the phone with amazing, no-nonsense advice and excellent banter. I certainly benefitted from his willingness to help others as I know many members here also did over the years.
Some of us will be attending his funeral by the most appropriate conveyance, I will update this post when I know the details.
Russ will be very much missed, not least by his wife Nicola and children Hannah and Cameron but also by all of us who were privileged to call him a good mate. RIP Russ.
Paul
WhatsApp Image 2024-01-30 at 10.18.30.jpg WhatsApp Image 2024-01-30 at 17.37.20.jpg
It is with great sadness that I must report the recent and very untimely death of Russ Montlake-Mees (Kryten).
In his time as a SOC member, he was Jackshaft, dispensing wisdom to members who needed help with the various ailments that befell their cars as well as serving as a moderator here. Russ was also an active member of the SOC South East London area and always helped with the club stand at the Bromley Pageant which achieved best club stand one year beating some who had manufacturers sponsorship. It was mentioned at the time how friendly and welcoming we were, no doubt in no small part to Russ and his technical advice table and a Stag engine on a stand used as a prop. There are many SOC members (me included) who owe him a massive debt of gratitude (you know who you are). He would often drive to them to get problems sorted. He was/ is a member of Club Triumph as well. And if you didn’t know he loved an old Honda, I guess none of us is perfect.
As anyone who knows Russ would testify, he was a car nut from a very early age, which probably accounts for his immense knowledge of all things mechanical. He may well have had 99 octane making up some of his blood, I reckon. In his work life, Russ served his apprenticeship at a local Fiat dealer & won apprentice of the year. He then did a spell as an RAC patrolman before returning to a dealer workshop at the the local Leyland dealership where he quickly became a well-respected foreman.
His technical knowledge of all things engineering related was phenomenal. A mutual friend tells of him scraping the white metal bearings on a 1939 Ariel square 4 engine (pretty rare by all accounts) - he rebuilt the engine on that without much prior knowledge. A few weeks ago he was explaining torsional vibration dampers in radial engines to the same friend (nope, me neither). But to me, what set him apart was his generosity of spirit. He was always willing to help either in person or on the phone with amazing, no-nonsense advice and excellent banter. I certainly benefitted from his willingness to help others as I know many members here also did over the years.
Some of us will be attending his funeral by the most appropriate conveyance, I will update this post when I know the details.
Russ will be very much missed, not least by his wife Nicola and children Hannah and Cameron but also by all of us who were privileged to call him a good mate. RIP Russ.
Paul
WhatsApp Image 2024-01-30 at 10.18.30.jpg WhatsApp Image 2024-01-30 at 17.37.20.jpg
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