by MeBHank » 19 Mar 2021, 03:01
What a horrible shock.
Ecca was not just a member of the Hankies; he was the embodiment of the Hankies. I only met him a couple of times, but I loved his irreverent, boyish enthusiasm and humour. A short time spent with Ecca was enough to remind you that life isn't as bad as it sometimes seems.
I don't wish to offend anyone with this comparison (I think you'll understand my meaning here), but sometimes the Shadows community has reminded me of the chaps from 'Last of the Summer Wine': some wonderful people, diverse and eclectic, rediscovering their childhood and indulging their passions once again during their later years and their retirements, united by their love of guitar melodies. Truly, if the Shadows community was set as a sitcom, Ecca would be one of the key characters, and would deliver many of the punchlines, whilst often also providing the voice of reason. He was a great example of what mutual enjoyment of music should be, without letting anything affect such a simple pleasure.
He was a kid at heart. I look at the pictures of him as a teenager and I just know his approach to life had barely changed since those days. His smile certainly didn't.
I'd known Ecca for a few years through ShadowMusic and I loved his carefree manner. The first time I got to meet him was at the Hankies, and he was every bit the magnetic, hilarious, joyous, vibrant character I'd hoped he would be.
Alongside Amanda Hambidge, Ecca's support at 'ShadowsFix' was greatly appreciated by me; he helped the Friday night club session flow whilst I focused on the wider management of the event and preparations for the following day's concert.
He was remarkably talented, and could achieve anything he set out to do. He was a wonderful guitarist, but though Facebook and ShadowMusic we could appreciate from afar his mastery of carpentry, electronics, computer technology (such as the making of his brilliant videos), and writing. Ecca loved life, he loved his family, and he reveled in his friendships.
I think of his dear chum Al Bakewell, whose plectrum hire business will be greatly impacted.
Ecca and the other Hankies accepted me as a 'Malcolm', which I considered a great honour. I feel privileged to have shared cheese cobs with, and had beer mats thrown at me by, the legendary Ecca Thacker.
The Shadows Family has lost one of its warmest, brightest lights, and today our lives are all the colder and dimmer for it.
My thoughts are with his wife Chris and his family.
RIP Ecca.
Justin Daish