Obituary Paul Sawyer

Earlier today Paul's family posted this on facebook, informing his friends about his passing.

To all that knew and loved Paul, it’s with a truly broken heart that we must share the news that our beloved husband and father passed away on the evening of March 27th surrounded by the immense love of his family. From the very beginning of his diagnosis, he showed nothing short of heroism with his bravery and strength and that carried through right until the end. We are truly devastated and will feel his loss forever.

We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the kindness that has been shared with Dad and to us as a family during this cruel battle.

May he finally rest peacefully.

All our love,
Julie, Catherine & Holly

It was a great privilege to meet Paul Sawyer in person 15 years ago – and that on our first ‘official’ trip to Nottingham. Together with John Stallard, Paul took a lot of time for us, a small group of German wargaming bloggers who were on a true pilgrimage to the Lead Belt. In the following years, often even at invitation, as at the Warlord Games Day, we were repeatedly able to experience the hospitality of Paul and his team. Our visit in 2023 as part of the Bring-out-your-Lead event, when we were guests in Nottingham again, remains particularly unforgettable.

It was not only a personal experience for me to meet Paul as the former long-standing editor-in-chief of White Dwarf, but also to feel the passion and enthusiasm for the hobby that he has brought to life in his numerous articles. It was equally fascinating to witness how Warlord Games, the company Paul co-founded, grew from its modest beginnings in the small offices of the first headquarters to the later relocations to larger premises – always with Paul in the characteristic Notts County jersey, a polo shirt or the tea cup of his beloved Magpies in hand. We were also allowed to take a look at the personal projects he worked on at his desk.

It is therefore particularly painful to have to say goodbye to a man for whom our hobby was not just a job, but a true calling.

Our deepest condolences go out to his family and to all those who knew and appreciated him.

In case you want to donate, as the GoFundMe campaign for Paul has been closed, you can do so at CancerResearchUK.