The big cheeky grin of Ed Selby has been one of the great delights of swimming with the B&B. Mind you, his humour, generosity and smothering bear hugs were also pretty wonderful. Sadly, our dear friend and swim buddy ended his battle with cancer yesterday at 8.30am.
We saw how this hideous disease weathered Ed’s frame, but not his determination. So let us remember him as the person we grew to know and love since he joined the squad in mid 2013.
Over the summers of 2013 and 2014, Ed took to entering just about every ocean swim he could logistically manage. It was not about winning, he was there to participate and soak up the joyous atmosphere of people doing something they loved.
This excessive amount of swimming required additions to his swimwear wardrobe. Impressed by the yellow Budgie Smugglers online, although finding them a little bright, he stood out in a crowd – like the Australia Day swim with Katrina.
Today we remembered Ed with love and laughter.
John, John and Shaun paid a heartfelt tribute to Ed – with lots of concentration on getting the hands into the heart shape 🙂
Karen and Roz were regular visitors to Ed over the past months.
Sue and Elaine – Elaine was especially active in keeping Ed up to date with the B&B activities.
The swim seemed solemn today. Perhaps it was a mixture of the overcast conditions and the news of Ed’s passing.
With large (ish) rolling waves some chose the Halfway route – especially as the low tide made the rocks just that little bit closer. . .
Renae on the Shelly walkway shared an ‘Ed moment’ with love and a smile.
The squad had a minutes silence at Shelly as we reflected on how fortunate we were to share those precious years with Ed.
Ed may be absent from our presence, but he will remain in this special place at Shelly because we carry him in our hearts and minds.
And what would a swim be without coffee! The post swim coffee was always a great time to have a yarn with Ed.
To Ed with love from your swim buddies.
Keep partying where ever you are.
I hope you won’t mind this quote.
“No…no…not for us, not like that. Dying is not romantic, and death is not a game which will soon be over…Death is not anything…Death is not…It’s the absence of presence, nothing more…the endless time of never coming back…a gap you can’t see, and when the wind blows through it, it makes no sound.” Rozencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Stoppard)
Mary
The Stats
Regulars: 118
Newbies: 4
Temp: 17.6 degrees
Sunrise: 6.05am
Sunset: 7.14pm
22 comments
Bill McCaffeine
October 22, 2016 at 12:18 pm
Please publicise when the Memorial swim will take place.
edwina harrison
October 22, 2016 at 12:29 pm
what a lovely blog Mary, thank you 🙂
Lainey Loo
October 22, 2016 at 12:54 pm
A lovely tribute to an amazing guy. Thanks Mary.
He often said how much joy, warmth and comfort he got from our swims and being part of such a great group. He had had such a tough time before coming to us but we helped make him happy again until that awful pancreatic cancer got to him. He did ask for a Memorial swim but we’ll just check with the family as I’m sure some of his sisters and sons will want to take part. I’ll put his funeral date on the blog too. It may be next Friday.
His son Jackson sent me a message with these words… The B&B has been the greatest group of people in his life. I can’t even comprehend where he would be without you all.
Snorkles
October 22, 2016 at 12:55 pm
Such sad news, such a beautifully natured guy.
Lovely tribute blog Mary, well done.
Stephen Coulter
October 22, 2016 at 1:05 pm
Great blog Mary. So sorry to hear about Ed – he embraced every opportunity.
Kerry
October 22, 2016 at 1:22 pm
Wonderful tribute Mary. ❤️
Lindsay
October 22, 2016 at 1:36 pm
I remember Ed well. He was a lovely man and will be missed by many.
Shelley K
October 22, 2016 at 2:00 pm
Beautifully blogged Mary
Elizabeth
October 22, 2016 at 2:18 pm
A beautiful and fitting tribute to a really lovely man.
DWSS
October 22, 2016 at 2:19 pm
Yes, beautiful blog Mary.
Very sad day.
Jenny ((:
October 22, 2016 at 3:20 pm
Ed was in all of our hearts, thank you Mary, what a beautiful fitting blog to our beautiful friend. Sadly missed. Xx
John
October 22, 2016 at 3:24 pm
Ed will be remembered. He was one of us,a member of this great community of ocean swimming.
Farewell my friend.
Renae
October 22, 2016 at 3:32 pm
Beautiful blog Mary xx
Hilary Ingle
October 22, 2016 at 3:49 pm
Ed will be dearly missed. I was lucky to park my sports bag next to his one day and introduce him to my son who was aged 10 at the time. Ed’s son would go on to coach Cameron in school rugby and a friendship and bond quickly formed. What a special man Ed was supporting Cameron with his swimming and charity work and always talking rugby. In our hearts forever Hilary & Cameron ❤️
Lips
October 22, 2016 at 4:21 pm
Thanks Mary. Captured the mood perfectly. Ed would have approved.
Baker James
October 22, 2016 at 4:50 pm
A lovely blog Mary. X
Fifi
October 22, 2016 at 7:58 pm
Dear Mary,
A lovely tribute to a great guy, I’m sorry I missed the news yesterday.
Your thoughtful words express our collective thoughts.
We will never really be absent from Cabbage tree Bay while he is in our thoughts xxx
Margot Pope
October 22, 2016 at 8:06 pm
Well said everyone. We are all lucky to have known Ed, and should continue his memory on and on. He will be truly missed.
Sheena
October 22, 2016 at 8:47 pm
Lovely blog Mary. Ed enriched the lives of those who knew him, he will remain our hearts, we will miss him so miss xx
Inge
October 22, 2016 at 10:17 pm
Poignant and beautiful at the same time …thank you Mary. I am happy that Ed had the pleasure of the Bold Beautiful!
Elizabeth X
October 23, 2016 at 1:03 am
What a lovely blog and fitting tribute Mary. Ed’s passing is our collective loss. We were enriched by having him in our group and its great that the B&B benefitted him so much too. His tenacity, optimism, outlook and dedication to the swim over the last year + were nothing short of inspirational. Poor Massey (dog) a regular visitor to B&B Central with him, will be lost. She was such a faithful companion esp in this tough period. Hopefully his sons, sisters and all his family can take comfort from how widely loved he was amongst us and all the happiness and support he found within the B&B. Vale Ed – a good man 💙 X
alyson maier
October 23, 2016 at 6:56 am
Such sad news. Ed was an inspiration and a down right generous fair dinkum fella. He will be missed greatly