R.I.P Byron Gray

The East London surfing community were saddened by the passing of Byron Gray, a devoted Slummies local who slipped away on Thursday morning after a fight with Cancer. Byron was 38.

Byron’s enthusiasm will be missed by all who knew him, while many others will recall fondly Byron frothing like a grom and uttering the words “see the ocean through my eyes and you’ll always see a wave out there boys… Come on lets go!” A Border surfer and avid fan of Eastern Beach, Nahoon Reef and anywhere else there was a decent wave. Byron could also be seen checking the surf before graft everyday as regular as clockwork, and was always keen to paddle out in any conditions and any size.

Byron was usually the one to get the ball rolling amongst friends when it came to organizing surf trips away. He’d be the guy who did the homework on an island trip away every year for the local crew, and would make all the bookings, or indeed those mad weekends he’d organise up or down the coast.

Byron leaves behind two children. He was always seen by family and friends as a devoted father, supporting their many sporting interests and school work. He himself was also mad about sport and was consistently arranging to watch cricket games, rugby games, water polo matches or go on fishing trips. He could hit a golf ball as well, and often won small local events in East London.

There are mixed reactions to how hard he partied, from not much, to flippin’ hard when the party was on, but he was always wanting to have fun.

Byron will be sorely missed by family and friends and surfers alike. Eastern Beach and East London’s waves will miss one of its best friends.

A paddle out in memory of Byron is in planning, with the funeral scheduled for the middle of next week.
For further details contact Ed Peinke at Just SURFING – 042 735 4314