Metropol

I'm not sure if it is right to post this here or not given the general opinion of Simon around here, but sadly Simon passed away the other day. More here - http://www.grangehillfans.co.uk/simonluxton/

Love him, hate him or just take the piss out of him I'm sure everyone will agree it comes as quite a shock to hear of the death of someone quite well known around these parts.

Shit.

I am genuinely shocked.

I know this won't exactly mean much but I would also like to express my shock and disbelief at this news. As Ben mentioned, general opinion of Simon varied but I'm sure it goes without saying that very few people genuinely would know about his heart condition.

Lost for words.

Ben wrote:I'm not sure if it is right to post this here or not given the general opinion of Simon around here, but sadly Simon passed away the other day. More here - http://www.grangehillfans.co.uk/simonluxton/

Love him, hate him or just take the piss out of him I'm sure everyone will agree it comes as quite a shock to hear of the death of someone quite well known around these parts.

Gosh How awful. I actually feel quite upset.

Makes me feel very guilty and very rotten for laughing along with those who laughed at aspects of his life without knowing the big picture.

I'd noticed that Simon hadn't been posting much on Digital Spy recently.

I've had more of my fair share of Mrs Merton style heated debates with Simon over the past few years on TV Forum and elsewhere. As everyone here will know we didn't agree on very many issues, though in fairness there was the occasional patch of common ground too.

I'm genuinely sorry to hear that he's gone at such a young age and my thoughts are with the people who shared his short life, knew him properly, and loved him.

It's fair to say that Simon and I seldom saw eye to eye, and had more than our fair share of disagreements over many years on TV Forum - but like others have expressed, this news has come as a real shock.

I assumed that Simon and I would go on to have many such discussions in the future, and I'm genuinely saddened to know that we won't. We didn't always row - and I'm glad I took the opportunity to tell him in private message that I respected his efforts on his Grange Hill fansite, as well as his contributions to presentation sites - and latterly having one of his archive idents make it on to the screen, complete with a credit at the end of the programme.

Truly - that's the thing that brought us all together right from the beginning, and he definitely made a lasting contribution.

I'm so very sorry to hear that someone so young has gone, for his family and those who undoubtedly cared for him - and for whatever its worth I won't soon forget Simon Luxton.

Goodbye, Simon.

Again, shocking to hear. As Gavin mentions, he shared in common the interest that brought everyone to this odd part of the internet in the first place. News like this brings back the perspective.

Wow, had no idea he was even ill. I'm echoing everyone else's thoughts really. Simon may have sometimes come over as a bit of an oddity (but then who's normal around here?) but his contributions to TV Pres sites (which as already said are what Metropol is built on anyway) cannot be faulted, and whilst I may have disagreed with much of what he said, his heartfelt belief in what he was saying has to be respected.

I may well have never met the guy, but nevertheless it's very saddening to think that someone who is a known name round these parts isn't here any more.

RIP Simon

A bit late now to show your compassion. it was always like the fox and the hound with Simon and the metro pack.
I never spoke to him much but when i did he seemed an ok guy.
it's sad no one should die young.

I think it's safe to say Simon wasn't the most well-liked of figures around here. It would be easy to make quips like "RIP a great loss to television". But it would also be entirely insensitive.

It's hard to know who a person is just by their contributions to an online message board. Certainly Simon rubbed many people the wrong way. But this news is truly saddening. To die at such an age and in such a way is tragic. Perhaps he didn't have many friends here, but doubtless he did have friends. And he had family. My thoughts, for what they're worth, are with them at this time. I can only express my deepest condolences for their loss.

Events like this are a reminder of our own inherent mortality. That fact is easy to forget at times, as we get so swept up in our own daily lives. It signals to us the need to make the most of our time on this lump of rock: to pursue our interests with passion, our goals with dedication, and our dreams with the intense ambition of making them real. My lasting impression of Simon is that he did just that. That might not always have made him popular. But it does mean he will be missed.

Rest in peace Simon.