Remembering Zebidee (1 March 1969 - 5 July 2021)

Our friend Zebidee Habib passed away recently. Below is a selection of farewell messages from his friends in our club, followed by some of Zeb's own musings on cars, life and people in general - always hilarious, sadly missed. We are all the poorer without you, Zeb.

Zebidee was the first person I approached to help me run the group back in the old days. He wanted to help me but was hesitant, being unsure he would be able to deal with the turmoil and stress that frequently came our way back then.

​It was some months before he eventually agreed, in which time Gar had accepted an offer to help, thus making Zeb the 2nd Admin I recruited. He did brilliantly of course - often defusing quite heated online debates or censuring undesirable behaviour with hysterically funny interventions that somehow just worked. He also became a valued online friend - his ailments and suffering were rarely mentioned, bearing it all with his usual trademark humour.

It was a pleasure and an honour knowing you Zebidee - you reminded me that there are plenty of good guys out there in a harsh world. We will all miss you so much, but we at least have the consolation of knowing your suffering is finally at an end.

​Rest in Peace, dear friend.
Paul Sweeney

Shocking news. Who will we taunt with Harolds now? I have donned my mourning pantaloons and will eat nothing but cake for the rest of the evening in his honour. RIP Zebidee Habib. Your crazy humour will be missed by many.
Poppy will miss you too.
Mike Peake

So very sad to hear this..... All possible strength to anyone who knew him, and who didn't. I'm sure Zeb will still laugh together with us, but now from a far better place!
Edwin Feenstra

Very very sad to read this.
I, like so many have said already never actually met Zeb in person but have enjoyed his whacky input in his many group posts. There have been several occasions when I've laughed so hard at his writings that I've cried.
Goodbye you brilliant crazy petrol head, I'll genuinely miss you. RIP Zeb
Phil Allin

So sad. A great loss to us all. RIP

• Jane Webb

Devastating news. I knew him outside farcebook world and used to work with his late Mum and his Stepdad. RIP Zebidee.
Dave Husbands

So sad, as if a personal and life long friend has gone. Although fairly new to the group I came to know Zeb from his humorous and human contributions to these pages. Would love to have known him personally, I'm sure I would have been a better person for it. Sincere condolences to those who did know him as friend or family.
Dennis Weatherill

God Bless you Zeb, Your vehicle knowledge and your charisma will truly be missed …one of a kind be at peace now.
Ian Hartwell

So sorry to hear this. His comments & responses always stood out. Such wonderful wit. Sincere condolences to family & friends.
Colin Hickey

Loved Zeb’s posts over the years. One of the funniest guys on Facebook. I’m really saddened to hear of his passing. It’s a real kick in the guts. Always hoped that one day I’d meet him face to face. RIP mate, we won’t see your like again.
Richard Graveur

So sad to hear this, will miss his 'off the wall' contributions, thankfully his suffering has ended, but so early.
Alan Crown

That's really sad news. my condolences to his family and friends. Zeb was a really great guy to talk to. a decent man.
Alex Singleton

Absolutely heart broken. He was a fellow admin on our page. What an absolute legend. RIP Zebidee Habib love you xxxx
SG Smith

I’ve an idea that without Zebidee Habib words like pantaloon and daffodils would never have appeared in a car group. Unique humour and a great supporter of this group - he’ll be sadly missed.
Nick Arthur

Such sad news, I know that my dad John Page loved his chats with Zeb and loved his sense of humour. Those chats with my dad really lifted his spirits when dad was poorly, and my mum and I are forever great full for that. Rest in peace, sending our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.
Andy Page

Ah Jeez. That's such sad news.
Zeb kept us constantly entertained with his wonderfully wacky take on life.
I'll miss him immensely.
Stan Barnes

Terribly sad news... truly. What a character... he will be missed.
Daniel Hopkins

He was my oldest friend. We met as teenagers and our mutual interest in cars cemented our friendship.

He was well known in his youth for his Mohican, crotchless jeans, ripped shirts and boots and put the fear of God into anyone on first meeting. However, people who knew him knew he was a gentle giant with a heart of gold and a sense of humour all his own.

His cars also showed his sense of individuality in those days. Usually Victors, invariably clapped out and with his trademark fins made from pieces of metal and huge quantities of body filler that gained him the nickname of Batman by the local kids.

He was a large part of my mis-spent youth. Thanks for your friendship old fruit...thanks for the memories.
Chris Hill

Our dearly missed Zebidee Habib has been on my mind today, a character like Zeb leaves such a gap when you interact with them every day.

Some great stories have come to light since his passing, such as how he would fabricate huge metal fins and graft them onto unsuspecting FD and FEs, earning him the nickname ‘ Batman ‘ from local kids.

Apart from his knowledge of cars he was also a good practical home fettler in his younger days, with the restoration of his beloved Ventora being the high point when it won an award at its first show.

For me it’s missing his take on life; you never knew what he was going to say next. He often referred to the group as a pirate ship, with Paul Sweeney as the captain, Mike Peake as the Bosun and the rest of us were scurvy swabs just mopping the decks.

You’d ask him how he was at 8am and he’d reply ‘ jaharrrr, lad, I’m just darning some silk stockings for the captains favourite cabin boy ‘argghhhh'.

Another time he said he’d had an early start due to perming his neighbours leg hairs , I knew better but asked why? He said ‘Well since she turned 90 Mabel has suffered from excess leg hair, at first it was a benefit keeping her warm but now it’s getting caught in her slippers making her trip over".

Many a time I dribbled out my coffee laughing at his replies, he also had an ongoing battle with a spider in his bathroom. Being scared of them he tried everything to tempt it out from the room including jam toast with added flies, but alas it always out-smarted him and went behind the radiator. I’d ask him if he’s evicted it yet and he’d say ‘. No he’s taunting me as I’m sat on the loo, just poking a few eyes and 2 legs over the radiator".
​
It’s this surreal world of his that I and many others miss as well as the fact he was just a lovely guy, One we’ll never forget
Gar Cole

It's almost exactly 6 years since I stumbled across this group and Zebidee was one of the first people I connected with.

I'm a bit of an insomniac myself, and this shared characteristic led to many surreal late night/ early morning exchanges. His very special sense of humour hid a pretty deep thinking individual and I'll miss him more than I thought possible to miss someone you never actually met.

To paraphrase a rather well known speech : 'Alas, poor Zebidee! I knew him: a fellow
of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy: he hath borne me on his back a thousand times. Where be your gibes now? your gambols?Your songs? Your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar?'

Sadly we'll be no longer regaled by Trevor McDoughnut's News at Ten, nor sympathise at him being beset by Heralds. You had a really rough last few years, but now it's time to rest.
Bye mate, I'll miss you more than I'd have thought possible.
Brian Allison

May Zebidee & his fabulous pantaloons rest in eternal peace.
Alexander Baker

Really sad to hear this - gone much too soon Always loved to read his posts. He's now found his rightful place among the Herald angels.
Paul Berman

Zebidee’s comments on any number of topics and subjects were an absolute joy to read. Totally off the wall and that’s a compliment. I’ll miss his pantaloon type remarks.
Graham Hemsley

Terribly sad to hear this news, he was always at the end of a message when I wanted to discuss something with him, he'd always reply with a logical and jovial approach. I think we'll all miss is comical posts and comments.
Such a nice fella that the group has lost.
George Pieri

An absolutely bonkers one off character who will be greatly missed , I had many hilarious exchanges with Zebidee but sadly never met him . Rest in peace Sire .
John Lonergan

Absolutely shocked by the sad news of the passing of Zeb. Such a funny bloke with a really sharp, dry, sense of humour. He had me laughing & tittering like a small child within 10 minutes of meeting him at our first show at Coventry.
R. I. P Zeb, you'll be very sorely missed.
Simon Birch

The first time I met everyone, including Zeb was at the Coventry museum. I found myself laughing at his easy-going take on everything and his zany humour. Then the camera roll for that now infamous picture.
 
Still can’t believe he’s gone.
Andy Perman

L-R Keith, Gar, BL Dan and Zebidee

He was always kind, informative, surreal, and full of wit. A good man I chatted to privately too. Rest well sir!
Ross Adams

It's amazing that "virtually" knowing someone has such an effect. I'm grateful for his contributions to this site and quirky humour that has lifted many during a difficult time for us, not realising his ill health. Please let his family know of all these tributes and if there is any way we car nuts can honour his memory.
Alan Warwick

From his Facebook page - "You live you die and hopefully do something interesting in the middle." He certainly did that! We thank you for all your tomfoolery and fantastic pantaloonery. A toast to Zebidee Habib! 
Peter Hays

I am so sad to read this that I could cry - like many others here i never met Zebidee in person yet i feel like i have lost a best friend. Rest in peace Zebidee, the world is now a poorer place.
Robert Bothwell

Knowing our dear friend, he's probably screeched up to the Pearly Gates in a velour adorned Ventora, resplendent in his finest pantaloonery, demanding "Where's mah cakey?"
Carl Dennis

RIP mate, your posts and comments have helped keep me sane, (well nearly). God bless you Sir you WILL be missed.
Jim Kershaw

This is shocking news. Despite all his ailments Zeb just seemed indestructible. His humour was legendary and ... his take on life was indeed warped. No-one could do humour like Zeb.
Mark Smith

This is so sad. I only messaged him recently and he sounded reasonably well.
A really unique a brilliant character was Zeb.
I'll wave my sausage in his honour.
My best wishes to his family and those who knew him.
Andy Jones

He, and his awesome sense of humour, will be sadly missed by all members of the group. I can only imagine what a loss he will be to his friends and family. RIP Zeb, a truly unique Gent.
Dave Youngs

Terrible news. RIP Zebidee, I shall miss your wonderful humour, and it was a real privilege to know you on these pages. Heartfelt sympathy to his family.
Phil Hall

Such tragic news to learn Zeb is no longer with us....R.I.P Zeb. He had such a great sense of humour and a eloquent turn of phrase. I know he will be greatly missed by us all.....i will now don a brightly coloured pair of the finest pantaloons and perambulate around my neighbourhood in his honour!
Colin Field

I knew him when he was Andy, RIP bud.
Alex Heaton

And finally, a few words from the man himself ... Goodnight Zeb.

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