RAMBO - A TRIBUTE

by Bluebird and Wigwam

A tragic loss for not only Teign Valley, but also for the other hashes that Rambo supported and hashed with for so many years. It was a mark of the respect and love felt for this supreme hasher that Isca and Otter Hashes came for what was to be his last - and signature - Birthday Hash out at Ashcombe Cross on Run #1927 Monday 25th July.

 

His exploits, and indeed, extraordinary feats of endurance, are too numerous to list but we might like to recall a few, in tribute to a hasher who created such a lasting and positive impact on our Teign Valley Hash.

 

His participation in the Grizzly is known and recalled by all. Rambo delighted in his cherished Number 69 that he wore - sometimes emblazoned in paint upon his bare chest - when competing in the twenty-mile yearly epic.

 

For some, that achievement in itself would be the highlight of their running career, but not so for Rambo.

 

The Fellsman is a high-level traverse covering more than 60 miles over very hard rugged moorland. The event climbs over 11,000 feet in its path from Ingleton to Threshfield in the Yorkshire Dales.

 

Rambo email after completing the 2009 edition:

'I am thrilled to bits. Despite sleet hail & gales, I was 2hrs 23m quicker than last year 61 miles 12000' ascent. Slightly tired now no idea why. Crossed the high moor bogs in daylight when previously in dark which helped speed things along. Reduced to a stagger/jog after about 44 miles.
Feet swollen and a little tired. Hope to be back for hash'.

 

The North Face Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc in 2008 proved to be the pinnacle of Rambo's long and distinguished career. It was a 105-mile journey from Chamonix in the French Alps, through Italy and Switzerland, and back to finish in Chamonix. Rambo completed the course to finish 36 minutes inside the cut-off time of 46 hours.

 

'During this whole journey of discovery, I became convinced that it was beyond me and that I had finally met my match. The prospect of coming back to do it again was too much to imagine. My legs would get no younger and I could not imagine doing more training'.

 

However, return he did for the 2010 edition in atrocious conditions to finish once more. A classic quote from Rambo when an official was trying to warn competitors of the danger up ahead:

 

'An official stopped me, but I couldn't understand him. He then spoke in stunted English explaining that it was very wet, windy, and cold over the Pass ahead. I pointed to my name printed on my vest "Rambo" and said that I normally do not wear a shirt. He laughed'.

 

Rambo hated any road - a legacy of knee injuries over the years - and his first question to the hares would be: 'How much road?'

 

Off-road, it was another matter. The more arduous the climb, the more rugged the terrain, the more extreme the weather, and Rambo lived up to his namesake in spades.

 

MEMORIES by Wigwam

 

Stuart ‘RAMBO’ Bondi 23/07/1953 – 19/08/2022

 

There passes a life well lived. He was there at my first hash with TVH3 in 1989 and was there for nearly all of my 1300+ runs. He reintroduced me after 30 years to my childhood friend and neighbour Hilary Harmer, his wife and partner for so many years AKA Doris.

 

You would never pinch a chip from Rambo’s plate or interrupt his post-hash meal. Accept those constraints and you would find that he was an all-welcoming hasher not only with TVH3 but with ASH, South Hams, and Otter.

 

His talent with the camera would be quickly transformed into a slide show after many hashes. That would have taken your average person hours to do, but Rambo was not average.

 

His weekends would be spent running or orienteering over mountain trails such as Three peaks challenges and ultimately the three-day Mont Blanc Ultra Trail. Many people would be able to tell more of those exploits. 

 

Climbing with Doris was another passion and he would help others to climb indoor and outdoor training walls.

 

It was as a hasher with Teign Valley that I knew of his commitment, determination, and generosity of time and spirit. 

 

Always in shorts and with his tee-shirt tucked in the waistband whatever the temperature or weather. 

 

His favourite number 69 which he would try to elicit for any running event if possible.

His recent birthday was his 69th. 

 

He remains the most hashed TVH3 hasher along with Doris, both partaking in 40-plus runs most years. 

 

If Rambo was absent, he would be on another adventure with Doris or his good friend and running partner Gromit.

 

Never one to be sitting in front of a TV, he was always organizing and coordinating charitable events such as The South West Coastal Marathon and The Grizzly. Always outside of my scope, but enjoyed by many fitter colleagues.

 

He had fought back from health problems in the last few years and everyone was pleased to see him active again and once again taking a leading role in hash affairs.

 

However, having been so active and involved in everything, ultimately the stark realization to discover for the second time that it was not possible to live his life in that style again, must have proved too hard to accept.

 

He will be fondly remembered for his contribution to the South Devon hashing community.

 

MEMORIES by Bluebird

 

On my first ever trail lay, from Maidencombe, it was pouring with rain throughout, the trail was deep mud and impassable in places. 

 

I recall Rambo, bare-chested and dripping wet, climbing up a near vertical bank and covered from head to toe in liquid mud. I feared for my life but Rambo was loving every moment of it.

In the pub, that great FRB, Heidi, uttered the damning verdict: 'Too hard and too far' as I got a DD. I was most upset until Rambo whispered in my ear: 'That's a great compliment.' My first inkling of how hashing worked.

 

Rambo was my hero. When I first embarked on reporting for TVH, Rambo - an IT expert - would patiently talk me through setting up the PC and solving glitches. 

 

To get acknowledgement from Rambo was the supreme accolade.

 

FINAL THOUGHTS 

 

Teign Valley has suffered a monumental loss. Our close-knit family mourns for him and he leaves a gaping hole in our ranks.

 

It is both sad and curious that we can only praise him when he has gone. Knowing what we do now, would it not have been marvellous to have been able to put a hand on his shoulder to congratulate him on his achievements and the help and inspiration he had given to so many - and simply to whisper:

 

'We love you, Rambo.'