• Spades Claret

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 11:59 am**

After a short illness, Mum passed away peacefully last night.
Mum (Bobby) was 80 and she will be hugely missed by Mr Spades (Dave), and the rest of the family.

Those of you who knew Mum may not be aware that she was brought up a Spurs fan.

Back in the mid-2000s, I bought Mum her first computer and got her connected to the internet. She wanted to know what she could use it for - so I showed her a number of things, including football forums. This was before UpTheClarets, of course - so I got her set up with a C*****s M*d account and left her to it. She quickly introduced herself, got to know a lot of you - and over the next few years was regularly in the Top 5 prolific posters list. She, of course, fell in love with all things BFC - and football/Burnley became her No. 1 passion.

Over the years, Mum lost most of her mobility, and the time she spent on here (and the “other place” beforehand) became increasingly important to her. Reading every unread post - and replying to most - before breakfast and then again every couple of hours throughout the day became her routine. And of course, we’d hear all about it - the friendships, the frustrations, the fun, the fights, the grammar questions, the tractor jibes, the “jam cakes” (iykyk) - it all meant so much to her. She couldn’t wait for the next match day. Summers were spent impatiently anticipating the start of the new season. And then - on match day - she’d be following along on the match day thread while watching on various dodgy streams - and turning it off for the last 20 minutes because she was just too nervous to watch!

Mum couldn’t make it to the Turf - but I’ll never accept that there was a more passionate Claret.

However you knew her, whether as Spades, Lady Spades, Spadesclaret, Auntie, your Majesty, Bobby or just Mum, thank you for making her part of the UpTheClarets family.

I really don’t have the words to express how very much you all meant to her.
- Rob

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:02 pm**

So sorry to hear your news, but a beautifully written tribute

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:04 pm**

So sorry. Thoughts are with you

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:05 pm**

So sorry to here that,I had just posted earlier on the Spades thread...RIP Your Majesty you will be sadly missed on here.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:05 pm**

Feel like I knew her so well but never met her. RIP.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:06 pm**

Sorry to hear of your loss.

A very much valued poster over the years not just on this board but as you say on the old one.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:06 pm**

Such sad news. She was wonderful to me back in the days of CM when I was really just a stupid kid. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:07 pm**

I didn't know her beyond this and the previous messageboard but she came across as a fabulous, caring and intelligent human being. Sincere condolences on your sad loss.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:07 pm**

Very sad news, may she Rest in Peace.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:11 pm**

RIP Spades, what a lovely lady.
Deepest condolences to yourself, family and friends.
She did let it out on our former home that she was raised a Spurs fan, in Stoke if I remember right. She also posted a wedding day photo and what a beautiful bride.
She will be missed.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:12 pm**

Oh dear.
That has brought a tear to my eye.
May our own Queen Roberta of Norfolk rest happily in the life to come, and may all the family be comforted by the thought of all the friends she did indeed have here on UTC.
It will not be the same without her.

Thank you for such a heartfelt post at this sad time.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:12 pm**

Very sorry to hear this, condolences to you and your family. Spades always came across as being very kind and caring, and with a good sense of humour.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:13 pm**

Sorry for your loss

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:13 pm**

That is so sad to hear

Like most, only knew her through here, but she always felt like the matriarch of the board and the previous one

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:13 pm**

Very sad news.
R.I.P. Spades.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:15 pm**

This has really saddened me. I'm so sorry for your loss. RIP Your Maj from just down the A47 .

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:21 pm**

So sorry to read this post, when I saw the title I was hoping it would be a positive update on Spades feeling better and recovering, but sorry to hear she has passed away, may she rest in peace.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:22 pm**

Very sad news, we had a good time back in the clarets mad daze.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:23 pm**

Very sad news mate

I remember how pleased she was at the birth of my two kids

RIP Spades

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:31 pm**

Really sorry for your loss. This is a special messageboard, no doubt about it. Yes there’s arguments and wind up merchants, but it’s still the first site I gravitate to when I pick up my phone.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:32 pm**

RIP sorry for your loss, a great poster.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:43 pm**

I’m so sorry. Spades was a wonderful contributor to this board.

Much love to you and your family.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:47 pm**

Absolutely gutted.

RIP spades.

One of a kind.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:49 pm**

Very sad news

R.I.P. Spades ❤
I've posted on a few messageboards with your mum over the years ,she was a very special lady and a great poster.
My condolences to you,your dad and all your family.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:50 pm**

So very sorry to hear this news.

This messageboard has lost a treasured contributor.

Heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:52 pm**

Heartbreaking news.

Like most of us, I knew Spades through her posting on this board but also got to know Bobby more personally through the first goal sweep and her sending cheques, something no one else does now.

From there, emails have been more regular between us and I feel I got to know her really well and what a lovely lady I found her to be.

I’d read that she’d been in hospital recently and was waiting for news of her return home to contact her.

It really is devastating news and my thoughts are with Dave and all her family and friends. I’ll miss her and I’m sure so many of us will.

Rest in peace Bobby and thanks for the friendship over the years.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:53 pm**

Fantastic tribute and an excellent poster .
RIP

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:54 pm**

The mother of this message board. I didn't know her in person, only through years of reading this forum and its predecessor. She seemed wonderful. Rest in peace spades, can't believe I'm typing that. Sending my condolences to her loved ones x

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:55 pm**

Just been alerted to this by CT and had to come on. Spades, where do you start. Just an incredibly kind, funny and welcoming human being. She was good for this board and always had the respect of us. I’m so sorry to her family and friends for your terribly sad loss.

A lovely person.

RIP Lady Spades

JDR x

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 12:59 pm**

My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family, Rob, at this very sad loss.
R.I.P Spades

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 1:04 pm**

so very, very sorry to here about Spades!
Wilks stated that she was looked upon as the matriarch of the board - which was true of the majority of posters…I always referred to her as Her Majesty which seemed very appropriate!
Always entertaining, fun and had great banter with many on here!
A major contributor to the messageboard…I will miss here greatly and like all on here will remember her fondly!
A lovely lady!
My condolences to you Rob and of course Mr Spades!

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 1:05 pm**

So sorry for your loss.

RIP, spades.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 1:14 pm**

Awful news. A name you could not have not come across on here. I rarely engaged Spades directly (she had her friendship group on here) but always read her posts and occasional exchanged views when the planets aligned. I’m terribly sad for your loss and our loss on here.

RIP Spades, up there with other legends of the board. God bless.
My thoughts are with her family at this sad time.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 1:42 pm**

So sorry to read this news. I never met her, however, we often quizzed each other on the message boards about the cryptic crossword clues that were proving difficult.
RIP Spades. Condolences to you and the family at this very sad time.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 1:45 pm**

Sorry to hear about her passing
She was one of the good ones and will be missed

RIP spades

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 1:49 pm**

I never knew Spades Claret personally !aiboforceN she was always great fun on here ... especially on the photo's threads and always had some great banter...

Our thoughts are with you and all her family and friends

RIP Spades Claret a lovely lady and this dorum group will miss her and her input on here.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 1:53 pm**

A very sad day, she will be missed on this board. I think through our few posts to each other I also got the impression that she shared a common interest, a love for playing bridge at a high level. RIP spades, condolences to her friends and family.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 1:55 pm**

Condolences to you and your family, may she rest in peace.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 2:03 pm**

Terrible news to read and not much else to add apart from condolences to Spades Claret's friends and family at this difficult time.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 2:07 pm**

Wonderful words. So sorry for your loss and your mum will be missed greatly
RIP

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 2:22 pm**

A loving tribute , and a moment for all on this board to think back on their chats with spades over the years

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 2:34 pm**

This really is heartbreaking news.
My most sincere condolences to Mr Spades and all the family.
We'd built up quite a warm rapport over the years on both here and, our old place.
Spades will be greatly missed by many.

R.I.P Spades.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 2:40 pm**

A lovely tribute, at such a sad time, Rob. My heartfelt condolences to you and your family.

The board will be worse off without ‘Spades’ and undoubtedly, the grammar will suffer!

My thoughts are with you.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 2:47 pm**

!aiboforceN wrote: ↑
Sat Dec 10, 2022 11:59 am
After a short illness, Mum passed away peacefully last night.
Mum (Bobby) was 80 and she will be hugely missed by Mr Spades (Dave), and the rest of the family.

Those of you who knew Mum may not be aware that she was brought up a Spurs fan.

Back in the mid-2000s, I bought Mum her first computer and got her connected to the internet. She wanted to know what she could use it for - so I showed her a number of things, including football forums. This was before UpTheClarets, of course - so I got her set up with a C*****s M*d account and left her to it. She quickly introduced herself, got to know a lot of you - and over the next few years was regularly in the Top 5 prolific posters list. She, of course, fell in love with all things BFC - and football/Burnley became her No. 1 passion.

Over the years, Mum lost most of her mobility, and the time she spent on here (and the “other place” beforehand) became increasingly important to her. Reading every unread post - and replying to most - before breakfast and then again every couple of hours throughout the day became her routine. And of course, we’d hear all about it - the friendships, the frustrations, the fun, the fights, the grammar questions, the tractor jibes, the “jam cakes” (iykyk) - it all meant so much to her. She couldn’t wait for the next match day. Summers were spent impatiently anticipating the start of the new season. And then - on match day - she’d be following along on the match day thread while watching on various dodgy streams - and turning it off for the last 20 minutes because she was just too nervous to watch!

Mum couldn’t make it to the Turf - but I’ll never accept that there was a more passionate Claret.

However you knew her, whether as Spades, Lady Spades, Spadesclaret, Auntie, your Majesty, Bobby or just Mum, thank you for making her part of the UpTheClarets family.

I really don’t have the words to express how very much you all meant to her.
- Rob

So sorry to hear this news. She was part of the messageboard family.
Condolences to all the family.

Can I just ask if it was random she registered for CM or are you or Mr Spades a Claret?

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 2:49 pm**

Sometimes I read a thread on here that truly shocks me. This is one of those, I opened it expecting to see that Lady Spades had returned home but alas not.

Although we never met, I always imagined that Spades was a proper lady and the name Lady Spades was well deserved.

So sorry for your & your family's loss Rob

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 2:53 pm**

That is very sad indeed. My condolences to her family and friends.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 2:53 pm**

Sad to learn of this. RIP Spades.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 2:59 pm**

So sorry to read about your loss.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 3:01 pm**

Heartfelt condolences, you wrote a beautiful tribute.

Posted: **Sat Dec 10, 2022 3:14 pm**

That was a stun of an opening post, which brought a tear to my eye. Such a sad loss to family and us too.

Obviously never 'knew' Spades, however, I remember her on the match threads and a defender of the Holy Custard legacy of Madge and words such as 'puff' off and 'puff'on, when the opposition made a substitution.

She got that this was intended as a powder pudding player and nothing else. That's all gone now, although spelling and grammar are just as important!

I will miss her posts and support in contentious times. My heart goes out to all her family.

Thanks Spades.

Spades Claret

Spades Claret

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