Jim Nagel

After a search on this forum for anything about Jim Nagel’s death in March, I found only 3 posts referring to it. So, I just want to record here my sense of loss at his death.

I remember meeting Jim at the London Shows, at his Archive stall and at dinner for helpers and exhibitors after the show. I remember him as friendly and efficient at his stall and a good conversationalist at dinner. He gave us Archive for around 12 years. What a loss to the RISC OS community. Jim, may you rest in peace.

Well said David.

It was always a pleasure talking to Jim.

RIP Jim

I met Jim at Wakefield in the Thornes Park days, and went on to do some small articles for Archive, to which I subscribed.

I remember him best for his eccentricities:

What I call his “archie and mehitabel” phase when he pretended he couldn’t reach the Shift key and insisted on all lower case – a disadvantage for a magazine editor!

Then, later, he started his personal campaign against cameLCase, which, surprisingly, considering that earlier phase, seriously offended him.

I took delight in teasing him about both on the Acorn newsgroups. I believe he took this all in good part!

We seemed to remain on cordial terms privately!

Having cause to require a French translation for camelcase, I was delighted to find that they make a jeu de mot  of it, calling it “la casse ChatMot”, which is a homophone for the French word for camel, chameau.

I don’t recall if I shared this with him, but have no doubt he would have been delighted if I had!

The French sometimes take their humour to a level one above the rest of us!

I wasn’t a subscriber, but he sent me issues from time to time when discussing various things. He quite liked my April Fool (won the lottery, bought RISC OS) and not so long ago he sent me a recent (the final?) Archive with a note to look at page two, where it points out that my April Fool did, in a way, actually come true.

He was also very pleased to source biodegradable bags to post the issues in, but annoyed by the changes to the Royal Mail barcoding. In other words, the interesting problems that publishers face that probably don’t occur to most of the readership.

I had never met Jim… but, then, apart from Chris (CJE) and John (above), have I ever met any of you? ;-)

Anyway, I had never met Jim but his personality certainly showed through in his writing, both in the magazine and online. I don’t think it needs to be said that he will be greatly missed, that’s pretty much a given.

Does anybody here know if there are any plans for the continuation of Archive? I don’t ask as a subscriber (I’m not), just as an interested person, for Archive has been going for a ridiculous long time, through the ups and downs, the dark years, and the rebirth. I hope it can find a way to continue.

Last week I spoke to Bart Nagel on the phone. Both Jim’s sons have returned home to cope with the consequences of Jim’s death. With COVID-19 and the complications that adds they have a lot on their plate. It would be wrong for me to report a private conversation on this forum without Bart’s imprimatur, but I do not think he would mind me saying that there are certainly plans concerning Archive. What stage they have reached is another matter. I think a memorial issue is on the cards.

there are certainly plans concerning Archive.

That’s good to know. Let me know if I can be of any use, though I probably doubt it as I’m an Ovation guy. Jim used Impression, didn’t he?

I think a memorial issue is on the cards.

Right now I’d have to wonder – memorial for Jim or for human civilisation? The way this year has been going, I really honestly wouldn’t be surprised if this didn’t end up as a zombie apocalypse by mid October.

if this didn’t end up as a zombie apocalypse by mid October.

So everybody, go buy AmCog’s Island Of The Undead and get your practice in while you still can!

That’s good to know. Let me know if I can be of any use, though I probably doubt it as I’m an Ovation guy. Jim used Impression, didn’t he?

He accepted input in Impression, Easi/TechWriter and OvPro. I assume OvPro can read Ovation files.