Long Term Members

Spectre

Free Member
Aug 13, 2018
9
3
Hi All

I haven't been on here in around 10 years, and after a quick look in recent posts, the only names I recognise are Sir Earl and Estwig.

I suppose it the cycle of life, but congratulations to the above two members in their longevity and support for the site.

It does make you wonder what happened to the prolific posters of years ago..

Have they changed careers? Have they died? Have they merely given up the ghost?

I'm trying to think of other names to search for on here, but can't remember due to the intervening time.

Perhaps the two stalwarts mentioned above still keep in touch with some of them.
 
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Scott-Copywriter

Free Member
May 11, 2006
9,605
2,673
I'm still kicking about 12 years later, although my username might have been tweaked during that time.

Many of the long-term members faded away shortly after Ozzy sold the site. And of course, there was that big kerfuffle when some of those members got banned and branched off to form their own business forum (A1 I think it was called).

I use the forum for non-business discussion more than anything else these days. Despite UKBF being nowhere near as busy as it used to be, there's still no other place I can think of that allows me to discuss current affairs with such a varied mixture of people from across the country.

There's one aspect of UKBF that's just as true today as it was 12 years ago: you'll always find someone with a completely different opinion to you who is willing to discuss without it descending into an argument (most of the time, anyway). It's a good thing in a world of echo chambers.
 
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Mister B

Free Member
Aug 31, 2007
2,658
639
Funny reading this, as I was thinking this only myself this morning, when somebody replied to a ten year old thread.

Bein old enough to remember the A1BusinessForums, which if I remember rightly, was orchestrated by Ray Badminton along with the rest of the splinter faction.

Anyway, the thread reminded me of people such as Cornish Steve, and a whole host of others.

How times change and people move on!

Mister B
 
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Spectre

Free Member
Aug 13, 2018
9
3
Perhaps I am just reaching the mid 50's when one thinks things were better in the old days. Its akin to snooker and darts..

In both sports you had a core set of personalities who attracted people to the game because of their foibles.

In snooker, there was

Alex "Hurricane" Higgins, who cried like a baby when winning the 1985 World Championship, with his young kid

Jimmy "Whirlwind" White
Cliff "Grinder" Thorburn
Steve "Boring" Davis
Ray "Dracula" Reardon
Bill "8 pints" Werbenuik
Dennis "Upside Down Glasses" Taylor --- remember that final when he won 18-17 at around 1 am
Kirk Stevens
Tony Meo

They were characters...... Similarly in darts......

John Lowe
Eric Bristow - the crafty cockney, who we all hated
Leighton Rees - The second world championship with John Lowe was awesome. A battle of giants
Jocky Wiilson - Small fat drunk scots guy who appealed to us all
Bobby George - precursor to the bling team


Since that time, the only two personalities have been Ronnie O'Sullivan in snooker and Phil "The power" Taylor. Stephen Hendry did not set the world alight, as we knew his teeth were capped, and at some point, we all wanted to uncap them lol.

On here the personalities seem to have waxed and waned, and mostly waned. Even the Time Out Section seems to have succumbed to political correctness... That is sad, as it was generally a sense of amusement with members hitting the Smirnoff and going off on one, to raise the rancour of fellow members.

No Different than what Elon Musk is allegedly doing on Twitter these days , other than a spat on here does not write a few hundred million dollars off one's share values
 
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Gecko001

Free Member
Apr 21, 2011
3,226
573
Spectre

The biggest difference I have seen here over the years is the dominance now of internet and IT related posts. When I first came here the definition of the word technology included things that could get your hands dirty.

I agree with your comments on the way Time Out has changed. Also too much troll-like behaviour to make it worth visiting much these days. Its a pity.
 
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JEREMY HAWKE

Business Member
  • Business Listing
    Mar 4, 2008
    8,568
    1
    4,026
    EXETER DEVON
    www.jeremyhawkecourier.co.uk
    I have been on here for about 10 years or so.

    Like most forums, there is a small core of people who are fairly established here, and people who are active for a few months and get bored.

    I am fairly active on here but also bored but that's just with life in general just like the usual suspects on here :):)
     
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    KAC

    Free Member
  • May 7, 2017
    1,553
    372
    On the oldest member, anyone beat me at 70, you young whippersnappers
    71 last week and been a member for probably 12 years but with a different account.

    I remember the regulars then included:

    Elaine from Cheap Accounting (I see that @Scalloway has recently overtaken Elaine as the most prolific accountant contributor)
    Alpha who was an accountant and a moderator
    Duane Jackson who started Kashflow
    David Griffiths a Welsh accountant who was also a moderator

    and it was before @Spongebob became the most followed member on the site
     
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    JEREMY HAWKE

    Business Member
  • Business Listing
    Mar 4, 2008
    8,568
    1
    4,026
    EXETER DEVON
    www.jeremyhawkecourier.co.uk
    Seeing as you have only been a member here for two months what was your user name before you were banned :D

    I think it is matey that owned this place before them young trendy YUPPIE type people up In Bristol with their frothy coffees and Iphones took over :):):confused:
     
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    Gillie

    Free Member
    Apr 12, 2006
    13,065
    1,463
    North West England
    Not true my wife told me years ago.
    Gosh Earl, have you just remembered that??

    Nor me, who I believe to the the oldest still active member.

    Blimey, I can even remember when Sir Earl was a mere whippersnapper.

    I can even remember LBE - Life Before Earl

    There's a list, you want on it?

    Mention something typical about backlinks, blog posts or panda, and I'll think about it :p:p

    Backlinks are good!! Blog posts - oh they have to be at least 1200+ words to rank on page one - Ooops!! ;)
     
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