RIP, Steven Aitkin

**Alan H** · 15th May 12, 11:45 AM

The Games lost a real competitor and someone who by all accounts was just plain an extremely nice guy, today.

http://www.shga.co.uk/news.php?a=194

I never met him, I only know the family by reputation, but I know Kineticat has met Stephen several times. Sadly, this might explain a few things...

**creagdhubh** · 15th May 12, 12:56 PM

Sorry to hear of this. Thanks for sharing, Alan.

Cheers,

**Kinetikat** · 16th May 12, 05:27 AM

Oh no. Ohhh nooo. Oh, how awful. I feel very bad now for thinking he'd just dumped me for training. I thought it didn't seem like the guy I'd met.
I just checked online and it seems he died two days ago after an 'incident with a bolt gun' at the cattle mart where he worked.
Oh, man, this is so very sad.

**LitTrog** · 16th May 12, 05:36 AM

Originally Posted by Kinetikat

Oh no. Ohhh nooo. Oh, how awful. I feel very bad now for thinking he'd just dumped me for training. I thought it didn't seem like the guy I'd met.
I just checked online and it seems he died two days ago after an 'incident with a bolt gun' at the cattle mart where he worked.
Oh, man, this is so very sad.

That sounds ridiculously tragic...I hate seeing news like that.

Especially when we need more people who genuinely fit this description:

Originally Posted by Alan H

...who by all accounts was just plain an extremely nice guy, today.

**English Bloke** · 16th May 12, 04:00 PM

Oh my word, that's a sadness.

**ThistleDown** · 16th May 12, 04:40 PM

For such a shy, retiring, modest manny who made no claims for himsel' to go off in such a way. Tch, sic a shame. Will there be a service d'you suppose, Alan?

**robthehiker** · 16th May 12, 05:35 PM

Very sad. My thoughts are with his family.

**Alan H** · 16th May 12, 09:23 PM

I'm not sure. I would hope so. I don't know the Aitkins personally, but I do know that a LOT of people in the Highland Games community are shocked and sincerely, strongly affected by Stephens passing.

**Kinetikat** · 25th May 12, 11:11 AM

I understand Steve's funeral was today, way up north. Wish I'd had the opportunity to go, but time didn't allow. Wondering now whether to wear a black armband or something during the Games tomorrow as a mark of respect, or whether that'd be the wrong thing to do...

**o1d_dude** · 25th May 12, 04:18 PM

The wearing of a black armband for someone who has recently passed is not going to be an issue.

I'd be surprised if there wasn't a moment of silence given Steven Aitken's stature in the Heavy Athletics community.

Wear the armband. It's the right thing to do.