Laurence David 'Larry' Brash (a.k.a. Christine Parker) (15th May 1948 - 23 November 2017)

Anagrammy Awards > Tribute Pages > Larry Brash


Larry Brash was the founding father of the Anagrammy Awards and Awardsmaster/administrator for 18 years up to March 2016, who died on the 23rd of November 2017 in Australia at the age of 69.

His death was announced to the forum on December 21st by Chris Sturdy, Larry's successor as Anagrammy Awardsmaster, following the receipt of an email from Larry's widow:

Dear Friends on the Anagrammy Forum

It is with regret I must pass on some sad news, that Larry Brash passed away on November 23rd.
I received an email this morning from his wife.

Larry was so very instrumental in the creation, running and maintenance of this forum and the Anagrammy Awards. His loss is a great shock and I hope you will join me in wishing his wife and family well.

In due course, but only with permission, I would like to suggest we set up a tribute page, but for now, if anyone would like to post anything, especially anagrams on the forum then I encourage you to do so. For more personal or direct messages, perhaps for now, you can send them to me at the usual address until I hear of a better place to send them or compile them.

Larry was a friend for over 15 years and I was glad to meet him on one memorable occasion in 2008 in London. He was of course also an excellent anagrammatist and a formidable, dedicated administrator and enthusiast for this forum and the Awards. We all owe him a great debt of thanks for making this site possible. I will write a more comprehensive summary of his contribution to the world of anagrams when I have more time.

Rest In Peace, Larry. Truly one of a kind.

Chris 'HSP' Sturdy
Anagrammy Awardsmaster

I was lucky enough to have met Larry once when he visited the United Kingdom in 2008. The picture is of Larry and me, wearing one of a handful of tops and hats, specially designed for the occasion by myself, and other long-time forum regulars David Bourke and Tony Crafter


The last post that Larry submitted to the forum was as Christine Parker at the end of June in 2017 - post 181423. This tribute page has taken some time to put together, and the most fitting occasion to launch it seemed the milestone occasion of post 200000.
The tremendous archive of work compiled over more than 20 years and so many posts is Larry's enduring legacy.


[Larry posted many hundreds of anagrams on the forum and won a huge number of awards in every category. Here are some highlights, kindly selected by Meyran Kraus:]

Winning Short category anagrams by Larry Brash

GENERAL CATEGORY, August 1998: [GRAND]
Religion is the opium of the masses =
Sometimes, if theologian is pusher.

GENERAL CATEGORY, February 2002:
Tetrahydrocannabinol =
Inhaled, contrary to ban.

GENERAL CATEGORY, December 2002:
Electro-Convulsive Therapy =
Pray the volts cure violence.

GENERAL CATEGORY, February 2004:
An appointment diary =/=
Pop in at any darn time.

GENERAL CATEGORY, May 2004:
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome =
Enter and thus find my son dead.

GENERAL CATEGORY, November 2005:
Driving under the influence of alcohol =
On tour in a vehicle drenched full of gin.

GENERAL CATEGORY, November 2009:
Laughter is the best medicine =
The genial side is much better.

GENERAL CATEGORY, September 2010: [GRAND]
Our golden wedding anniversary =
We're old, gray and on nine IV drugs.

GENERAL CATEGORY, May 2012:
Actions speak louder than words =
Useless pair chat and do not work.

GENERAL CATEGORY, January 2016 [GRAND]
A five star restaurant =
Starve at unfair rates.

ENTERTAINMENT CATEGORY, August 1998:
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare =
Hamlet, Othello, Caesar irk. We skip few poems.

ENTERTAINMENT CATEGORY, October 1998:
And they lived happily ever after =
Help end the very vapid fairy tale.

ENTERTAINMENT CATEGORY, August 1999: [GRAND]
The Three Stooges: Larry, Curly and Moe =
Actors? Lord, they're an ugly threesome!

ENTERTAINMENT CATEGORY, July 2001:
The Impressionist painter, Claude Monet =
He attempts intense colour. I am inspired.

ENTERTAINMENT CATEGORY, May 2004:
"It's been a Hard Day's Night" =
And, hey, this band is great!

ENTERTAINMENT CATEGORY, July 2009:
Daniel Radcliffe , Emma Watson, Rupert Grint ~
as Mr Potter, nice girlfriend and awful mate.

ENTERTAINMENT CATEGORY, June 2011:
Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush star in "The Kings Speech" =
S.. s.. sorry.. ar.. it.. its.. er.. not.. f.. f.. f.. uc.. cking he.. he.. he.. helping!

TOPICAL CATEGORY, September 1999:
Medicinal marijuana =
A cure? I'm in a damn jail.

TOPICAL CATEGORY, December 2006:
The Queen's Annual Christmas Day Broadcasts =
She's quite a lady, but transcends as a monarch.

TOPICAL CATEGORY, January 2011: [GRAND]
Australian Floods =
Our island's afloat!

PEOPLE'S NAMES CATEGORY, May 1998:
President Suharto =
Disaster up throne.

PEOPLE'S NAMES CATEGORY, May 1999:
Florence Nightingale =
Angel of the reclining.

PEOPLE'S NAMES CATEGORY, June 1999:
Milosevic =
'Cos I'm evil.

PEOPLE'S NAMES CATEGORY, January 2000: [GRAND]
Thomas Alva Edison =
Aha! Ions made volts!

PEOPLE'S NAMES CATEGORY, September 2000:
The Bronte Sisters, Anne, Charlotte and Emily =
Celebrate many stories set in the North land.

PEOPLE'S NAMES CATEGORY, February 2001:
Antonio Stradivarius of Cremona, Italy =
Famous or rare violins in an attic today?

PEOPLE'S NAMES CATEGORY, September 2001:
Osama bin Laden =
A bad man (no lies).

PEOPLE'S NAMES CATEGORY, December 2001:
The late George Harrison =
Singer: Altogether a hero.

PEOPLE'S NAMES CATEGORY, April 2002:
The actress Mae West =
Cast me, sweethearts.

PEOPLES NAMES CATEGORY, December 2005:
Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone =
He began on an experiment: A "Hello?" travelled forth.

PEOPLES NAMES CATEGORY, September 2009:
Rene Descartes, French philosopher/mathematician =
Men chant the classic phrase: "I ponder, therefore I am".

PEOPLES NAMES CATEGORY, September 2013:
Professor Stephen Hawking =
He gets known for his papers.

OTHER NAMES CATEGORY, June 2000: [GRAND]
Harley Davidson Motorcycles =
Very costly old road machines.

OTHER NAMES CATEGORY, August 2001:
United States of America =
Mac and Fries Eat-out Site.

OTHER NAMES CATEGORY, February 2002:
International Space Station =
It is not a pleasant container.

OTHER NAMES CATEGORY, May 2002:
Detoxification and Rehabilitation Centre =
I coax another infantile beer addict into it.

OTHER NAMES CATEGORY, January 2006:
United States of America =
Deem it as an utter fiasco.

OTHER NAMES CATEGORY, December 2006:
The Anagram Artist Windows Software =
Ah, it was so swift at word arrangement!

OTHER NAMES CATEGORY, September 2009:
Prostate Specific Antigen =
Test if cancer is eating Pop.

OTHER NAMES CATEGORY, May 2010:
Society for the Protection of Unborn Children =
Pro-life bunch is too concerned for her tiny tot.

OTHER NAMES CATEGORY, January 2011:
The Periodic Table of Elements =
Al, Be, C, Ds, Fe, He, I, Mo, Ne, Po, Re, Te, Ti, Tl.....

OTHER NAMES CATEGORY, March 2012: [GRAND]
Old Spice Aftershave =
Splashed it over face.

OTHER NAMES CATEGORY, November 2013:
Google Earth =
Goal? Go there!

RUDE CATEGORY, June 1998:
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum =
A virgo intacta and a mum? Presume a lie!

RUDE CATEGORY, November 2000:
The Missionary Position =
Say, I insist I'm on top o' her.

RUDE CATEGORY, June 2001:
Ladies' underpanties =
Splendid arse, Auntie!

RUDE CATEGORY, March 2002:
Oral stimulation of the penis =
Fellatio's proteins in a mouth.

RUDE CATEGORY, August 2003:
The Psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud =
Halt fancying Mother's pussy, Dude.

RUDE CATEGORY, March 2007:
The silicone breast forms =
Chosen for miserable tits.

RUDE CATEGORY, October 2009:
Praise genitals =
"It's a large penis!"

Some of Larry's winning Medium and Long category anagrams

MEDIUM LENGTH CATEGORY, November 2003:
Members of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists =
By all the results and models, we are claiming that Prozac is safe for anyone.

MEDIUM LENGTH CATEGORY, August 2004:
Computer (n), Electronic device which performs computations according to a series of instructions, known as a program. =
Microsoft Windows (n), A program that is defective, crack-prone (on purpose). In time, continual crashes occur, costing more.

MEDIUM LENGTH CATEGORY, March 2005:
What a piece of work is man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how express and admirable! =
What a fool is Mr Bush! how extreme in opinion! how wet and vapid in mind! in waffle so fancy, in ignorance so remarkable!

AWARDSMASTER'S CHALLENGE CATEGORY, June 2002:
"That's one small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind." Neil Armstrong =
An "Eagle" lands on Earth's moon, making a first small permanent footprint.

ANAGRAMMY CHALLENGE CATEGORY, June 2008:
'God gave us our memories so that we might have roses in December.' =
God gave us beer so we might use it, have some mirth, and score more.






[And 5 bigger Longies that are on another page]

LONG CATEGORY, October 2005: [GRAND]
After the death of Quasimodo

LONG CATEGORY, November 2006: [GRAND]
George W. Bush meets

SPECIAL CATEGORY, May 2001:
Minister Charles Simpson has the power

SPECIAL CATEGORY, June 2001: [GRAND]
Accident-proneness

SPECIAL CATEGORY, June 2005:
When I was a lad I served a term

LONG CATEGORY, June 1998:
To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them?
=
Is a befitting quote from one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies. But why won't Hamlet's inspiring motto toss our stubborn hero's tortuous battle for life, on one hand, and death, on another?

LONG CATEGORY, December 1999: [GRAND]
On the Twelfth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a milking,
Seven swans a swimming,
Six geese a laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtledoves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
=
I've anagrammed:
Twenty-three assorted birds (no wrens),
Seventeen attractive, if slim, young women (all giggling virgins),
Twenty-three amplified musicians ("The Mime Prodigies"),
Ten lavish upper-class gentlemen (all mad springing freaks),
Five pure gold rings for a hand (no lead),
And even eight cows (real mixed-up herd).

LONG CATEGORY, July 2003:
"It was once believed that a million monkeys at a million keyboards would eventually type the works of Shakespeare, but the Internet has since disproved this theory."
=
Instead, we only have to tolerate useless spam like: "Make Money Fast!"; "Buy Online Holiday!"; "Total Help with Debt!" "Have Harder Erections!"; or "Visit Kinky Dutch Porn Websites!"

LONG CATEGORY, June 2004:
To be or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them?
=
A rather famous quote from Hamlet, no doubt, one of Shakespeare's best plays.
Note, in its unforgettable oration, the son wonders about finding the right answer to best sort things out... or die.

LONG CATEGORY, February 2005:
The Three Laws of Robotics
1. A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
=
The Anagrammy Rules
1. Do not bother to post woeful anagrams which use terrible grammar or obscure spelling into this cool site.
2. Do not write obscene,"off" anagrams with bed-sex. No... not nice! Cut it out!
3. Do contribute just the very best, choice, apt anagrams, which consist of orthodox content, without which the outcome will often be: "no win".

Larry Brash


[NOTE - The following messages about Larry follow the thread kicked off by my forum announcement above, which was post 184966]

Eulogies from Anagrammy regulars

Posted by: Adie Pena on December 21, 2017 at 02:18:25
Subject:
The Anagrammy Forum says "Goodbye to Larry Brash. Rest in peace." = Truly respected, his anagram baby for many years has more to go.

Posted by: Rosie Perera on December 21, 2017 at 04:52:04
Subject:
So very sad. He will be sorely missed. His legacy lives on, and may we keep it going long to honor him.

Body of Message:

I looked back over the forum archives and realized he'd silently dropped out after his last post in February, which was, true to his ongoing care for this forum even after he'd passed over the reins, "looks like its working" after a "testing ~ ..." post.

Well, Larry, looks like it's STILL working, and you're not. Sorry I never got to meet you in person.

Rest in Peace, Awardsmaster Emeritus Larry Brash = Was smart. Has surer, merrier days in a better place.


Posted by: turnip on December 22, 2017 at 15:52:42
Subject:
Re: So very sad. He will be sorely missed. His legacy lives on, and may we keep it going long to honor him.

Body of Message:
Sorry, too sad to anagram. Hard to imagine an anagrammatic world without Larry


Posted by: Snafu I'll Jot (Julian Lofts) on December 21, 2017 at 06:21:54
Subject:
Prayer for Larry

Body of Message:

So please send our heartfelt prayers of dedication for Larry/Christine Brash. We miss you a lot.
=
Our Father,
Life ceases
Honor a notable psychiatrist
We're lost, saddened
Our family's sorry
RIP.


Posted by: Ellie on December 21, 2017 at 09:25:35
Subject:
Rest in peace, dear Larry = Leader's certain prayer.

Body of Message:
So very sad. Sending love to Gaile and his family. His legacy will live on.


Posted by: Tony Crafter on December 21, 2017 at 16:41:55
Subject:
Re: Rest in peace, dear Larry = Leader's certain prayer. Will think of an anagram later, but for now, sincere condolences to Larry's family on their loss. So sad to hear the news.

Posted by: Tyler Severance on December 22, 2017 at 14:15:05
Subject:
Just dropped in to find this news, so sorry to hear. May He Rest in Eternity.


Posted by: Rick on December 21, 2017 at 18:58:40
Subject:
Re: Sad News Regarding Larry Brash

Body of Message:

I haven't been able to visit this forum for awhile now and this is my first day doing so for some time now... what terrible news to be greeted by. Rest in peace, Larry.


Posted by: db (David Bourke) on December 22, 2017 at 12:04:29
Subject:
Re Rude category

Body of Message:

Perhaps now that LB is no longer with us, it'd be a nice touch if the Rude category was also renamed, after the thorn-in-his-side, as the Mick Tully Memorial Rude Category.

Posted by: HSP on December 22, 2017 at 12:12:58
Subject: you wicked man, db.

Body of Message:

Ha ha


Posted by: Snafu on December 22, 2017 at 21:27:05
Subject:
We miss you Larry & ~ your wry emails.

Posted by: rp on December 23, 2017 at 07:21:41
Subject:
Clever; an unmatched 's' though.


Posted by: FatPhil (Phil Carmody) on December 26, 2017 at 10:36:38
Subject:
Re: Sad News Regarding Larry Brash

Body of Message:

Larry was one of the people who nurtured my anagramming, and whilst I never got particularly far in the field, his influence was tangible. Likewise, his contribution to the building of a community was very welcome, even if the community did end up split (it's a shame there was never a gateway built to recombine the two).

As I said on a.a - Larry's not really gone until the final mention of his name, which is at least as long as the internet will last.


Posted by: Lardy Girl (Anna Shefl) on December 26, 2017 at 11:16:10
Subject:
Re: Sad News Regarding Larry Brash

Body of Message:

I'd like to add to the chorus of those touched by Larry. He had quite a way with letters and was a keystone in developing the work of many of us who rearrange them. Hats off to Larry!

Others have said it better, so I'll leave it at this:
Larry Brash, rest in peace = Cheers, rarest brainy pal!

A possible aid in the memories/memorials, photos by people who attended the London meet-up with Larry (along with HSP's write-up of the event) can be found in the meet-ups section of http://theanna.org/grams/ .

Lardy (anna) Girl


Posted by: nedesto on December 26, 2017 at 20:24:03
Subject:
Re: Sad News Regarding Larry Brash

Body of Message:

Larry was always very kind and patient with me when I was a clueless and annoying newbie. I miss him.


Posted by: Paul Pan on January 11, 2018 at 19:02:58
Subject:
My warmest condolences to Larry's family :-(


Posted by: Ralph Lenton on February 22, 2018 at 08:48:56
Subject:
Re: Sad News Regarding Larry Brash

Body of Message:

Larry gave me my Anagrammy name (All porn, then). I stopped posting many years ago but have fond memories of interactions with the old timers like Larry. My condolences to his family.


[Anagrammy was the way in which we on the forum knew Larry but he touched the lives of many and here is a link to the condolences page set up by his family]

Some anagram eulogies

Meyran Kraus:
The brain is wider than the sky,
For, put them side by side,
The one the other will include
With ease, and you beside.

The brain is deeper than the sea,
For, hold them, blue to blue,
The one the other will absorb,
As sponges, buckets do.

The brain is just the weight of God,
For, lift them, pound for pound,
And they will differ, if they do,
As syllable from sound.

[Emily Dickinson]



Ellie Dent:
When you lose
someone you love,
life will change,
you rearrange,
and everything around you
seems so strange.


Chris Sturdy:
"From success, you learn absolutely nothing. From failure and setbacks conclusions can be drawn. That goes for your private life as well as your career"
- Niki Lauda

The life you'd build should be the best -
Seek forth the life done right,
Defined by potent newborn joy
Or prominent new heights.

The life you build is compromise -
There's work that doesn't end;
The hardships and the kinder days
Compose a harsher blend.

The life you built was irony
Made flesh, there is no doubt:
The act of building was itself
What life is all about.


Thank you, Larry, for your wonderful existence, for being the person you were, and for building our site.

Mey


We do feel loss
You're gone.
The never gloomy Scot,
Sunny Aussie guy.
And ever here in anagram
I, we all, honor you.

Original here


Accolades go on celebrating our late Awardsmaster, Larry's fruitful years of achievement as I look back.

'Funny', 'prolific', 'wordy', 'unusual', 'absolute nonsense!' :-)

Chris


Click here for a page with two special anagram tributes created in 2018 by Meyran Kraus.