Transcript of the above video: 

This isn't a video I really want to be making, yeah. Sudden death of a living legend. That was all I could think the minute I read this article. I couldn't believe it when I saw it in the Pattaya Mail, that is pattayamail.com, the article is titled: Barry Kenyon passes away following tragic road accident in Pattaya. I just, I don't know what to say. I wouldn't say I was friends necessarily with Mr. Kenyon, friendly acquaintance might be the best way to sum it up, but we had met previously. I've quoted his stuff for years - knowingly and unknowingly sometimes - and I went to Pattaya City Expats Club at his behest at one point and talked about some things, and I've talked with him and I corresponded with him in the past. He was a great person; he was a really nice guy.

That said, quoting directly from Pattaya Mail, pattayamail.com, and I urge you if you are watching this video, go check out that article. I'm not going to quote everything on purpose because I want people to go check out the article because he contributed a lot to Pattaya Mail, I have cited him over the years. In many ways, what was it Newton said? “I stand on the shoulders of giants” sort of thing. Sir Isaac Newton said that I think. In many ways, there's information that I conveyed over YouTube that I was primarily passing along wisdom from Mr. Kenyon at the end of the day and that's really the situation, and he had a lot of wisdom; he had been here; let me just quote here. Quoting directly: "The Pattaya Community is in mourning following the tragic death of Barry Kenyon, a highly respected figure known for his long-standing contributions to journalism and public service. Barry passed away on the night of October 18 after being struck by a speeding motorbike on Thappraya Road in Jomtien." I am pretty sure I know where this happened, because I think whoever he was going to meet for dinner, I think I know where he was meeting him, because I meant him once down in Pattaya. We met up for dinner one time, I think it was lunch actually and just discussed news and stuff and then I ended up talking at the Pattaya City Expats Club shortly after that. So I'm fairly sure I know where this happened, and it is one of those places where people tend to kind of every once in a while, walk across there, but you've got traffic going pretty good and strong and it just got him. 

One thing I immediately thought when I was reading this was, "he died with his boots on", I mean literally. I wouldn't want to go out in any way, but I mean, that's something to be said. That said, quoting further: "According to witnesses, Barry was crossing the road to meet friends for dinner at an Italian restaurant when the accident occurred. He had reached the central median when a large motorbike, reportedly ridden by foreigner at high speed, lost control and slammed into him." Again I don't know what the facts are in that situation, I just think I have a pretty good idea where he was crossing; stuff happens there. It's kind of an odd intersection. Quoting further: "Born in August 1941 in Lancashire, UK, Barry's remarkable life reflected both intellect and service. He graduated with first class honors in Latin, Greek, and Ancient History from Liverpool University in 1964, later earning a PhD in Sociology and Criminology in 1970." So he was a Doctor. You know I think that's important to point out. Quoting further: "Barry served in the British Police Force, including as a drugs squad officer during the 1960s and 1970s. His international career later took him to Haiti and the Philippines, where he worked on overseas assignments before returning to the UK in the 1980s. He went on to hold leadership positions in education, becoming principal of Skelmersdale College in Lancashire from 1985 to 1993. In Thailand, Barry joined the British Embassy in 1995, serving as Honorary Consul in Pattaya and Immigration Liaison Officer until 2010. Over the years, he became a trusted name in English language media.." yeah,  there's like maybe a handful - especially at this point with Immigration stuff - of people I even care to hear from just generally speaking, and there were few sources better than Barry, in fact there weren't sources better, there were just others on par with him when it came to information about Immigration in Thailand especially. And frankly he was always a source I deferred to on anything pertaining to the British. He worked for their Embassy; he knew how their protocols worked. He was one of a kind. That said, quoting further: “…trusted name in English-language media, contributing extensively to several Pattaya publications -- most notably the Pattaya Mail. His sharp insight, measured reporting, and commitment to community understanding made him a respected voice in local journalism." Yeah, I couldn’t agree more with that. "Barry also founded the Pattaya Bridge Club in 1994, one of the city's best known social gatherings for expatriates and Thais alike. Despite challenges -- including a widely publicized raid in 2016.." - yeah, and he took it right back to them, old Barry did. He didn't step down one bit. He was like, "hey I'm playing Bridge. There is nothing wrong with it. Quoting further: "..the club remained a testament to his sense of community and passion for intellectual engagement."

And I can say, as far as being intellectually engaging, I can't think of anybody more engaging on an intellectual level than Mr. Kenyon. He will truly be missed, definitely by me, and probably by the entire British Expat Community I have to imagine as well as the wider expat community at large. He really was one of a kind. I personally will miss him. Tip of the hat to you sir. I am just so sorry you've gone, frankly as suddenly as you have. I know he had some years on him, but I wasn't thinking we were going to lose Barry anytime soon. But it came the way it sometimes comes for us all; when it's time to go, it's time to go. Again, I think it is really amazing. It is almost like his life was capped off with a remarkable exit, as much with a remarkable time here insofar as, as I said, he died with his boots on and it was what it was. It was definitely tragic, but I try to look at the bright side of these things. That being said, again tip of the hat to you sir. You will be missed Mr. Kenyon, and Rest in Peace.