For our great friend Lars Holst (with his permission)

It is with Lars's permission I have been able to post this.


Dear collectors 
Our great friend Lars has limited time , maybe only months after an extensive fight against cancer. In an email to him this evening, I said I would like to let you all know of his situation so you could offer your thoughts and comments while he is still able to read them.  As many of you may know, Lars is non religious, like myself , please keep comments respectful with this in mind.

To Lars, 
you have a been a great friend of mine, a gentleman and a great source of knowledge. You have inspired me to persist in projects I would have given up on. Your passion for collecting and details in technical assistance has helped me a lot.   I have greatly enjoyed the projects we have worked on together. I have learnt from the cuffs projects you have done and the one you are currently tackling. I hope you complete it. Despite your diagnosis , you still honoured your commitment to fly to the USA to sort out the Tom Gross collection. A lesser man would have pulled out but not you. The seller has told me countless times how dedicated you were to serving their best interests over your own.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the many nights of countless emails back and forth. I will have little to do soon without you and will deeply miss your presence in this world. 

Your friend always
Ian McColl

Thank you very much Ian for your compassion ! 

Lars

After our chats online, Lars, I knew this day would arrive at some point. My heart is broken, to see a man such as yourself have to endure the ravages of cancer. You are a inspiration to all collectors, young and "seasoned." Thank you for you tireless dedication to the collecting community in general. Your spirit, knowledge and your comradery will be deeply missed by all of us who have had the pleasure of knowing you. Thank you for all you have done for myself and for collectors across the globe. Your memory and wise words will forever be enshrined in all of our hearts. If there is anything I can do for you, please reach out to me. I will do all I can to help you. Im so sorry, my friend.
-Richard Knip-

Thank you very much for your kind words Richard!

Hi Lars.  I don't personally know you, but have seen many of your knowledgable posts before. We have also emailed from time to time. I am saddened to learn of you current condition and the possible outcome.  I am sorry you have to go through this.  I wish you all the best. 

Lars we have never met but we have had dealings in the past and they were all positive.
You have been a great influence in the collecting community and I wish you all the best.

Ian that was a wonderfully worded introduction to this solemn occasion and it was greatly appreciated.

Spencer

A 'gentleman and a scholar' is a phrase thrown around loosely, but Lars, you truely are. I have nothing but praise for all that you do and have done. My thoughts are with you, your family and friends.
Paul 

Lars in a very short time I’ve come to know the man you are. You’re a true gentleman and a very knowledgeable one as well. I will cherish the chats and knowledge you’ve passed on to me. My thoughts are with you and your family Lars. Your friend, Ron Jones

Hi Lars,

You don't know me, but I have admired you, your collection(one of the top), and extreme "knowledge of the game" from afar for quite some time.  I'm a long-time follower of the forum/site(since 200I).  I wish you strength, and just know the legacy and knowledge you have left with all of us over time is priceless.  Hang in there my friend.

Kris

Dear Lars,
both the wife and I are very sad that your fight with the disease appears to be not going the way we all here hoped it would. It was good to see you again this July, and to talk about our exciting hobby and the people we've met. The times we made great bargains, good deals or found a really rare cuff.  We noticed that our short visit was hard on you, physically. Your collection is one of the best, if not the best, in the world, and your enthusiasm, kindness and knowledge served as inspiration for many collectors. We hope there is some new treatment around the corner, one more approach that hasn't been tried. 
“The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.” (Jack London, also quoted in the recent James Bond). You sure have. It is how you said it: life is just life. 
We wish you all the best.
Nils & S.

Dear Lars,

You are and will always be a great friend.  I have known you for years and you have always inspired me with your enthusiasm and zest for life.  I am so blessed to have known you over these years.    Our mutual hobby has brought together so many from around the world and you have always been central part of it all.

Over the years various collectors, myself included, have argued over who has the largest collection,  the best this or that, the most exotic item.   I have always considered your collection the most beautiful.  Everything is a perfect as it can be. 

Lars. You are the best.

Joe

•                                  A TRIBUTE TO GREAT FRIEND!

I won't mention Lars in the past tense as he and I talk quite often, and we will continue to do so as long as we can.
I, myself was in the hospital very recently and was seriously sick, but it was not my time to join some fellow cuff collectors, but I came a bit too close.

Lars, you always tell me that the Cannon conventions were some of the best events you have ever been to.
I have to agree that each were a weekend packed with as much fun as one could endure.  
From staying up till 2 am seeing John Bushey and Terry Roses performing unreal magic to getting up at 6 am to do some handcuff selling and trading, every minute was an opportunity to see or learn some amazing sight or fact.  It was sensory overload as there was way too much to learn and see. I am happy that we shared these times.

Lars, you were so much fun to hang out with and I don't think we did any cuff trades at the time, but it did not matter as our friendship was the best thing that I could take away with me when we had to say goodbye and go back to our homes.

I will NEVER forget the scenic ride I took you on trying to navigate the streets of L.A. before I had GPS.  To those not privy to the story, we ended up on a dead-end street in the worst neighborhood possible and if Jesus looks like a sociopathic rabid serial killer, we may have proved his existence before I made the fastest U-turn in automotive history!  I know I am not supposed to mention religion, but either we saw him with our own eyes, or maybe we saw his brother.  

Even though we only hung together for a few times, I was always fond of the texting we did and the cuffs we sent back and forth over the years.  Without your help, my collection would be much less noteworthy!  I am glad that I could add to yours as well!

Learning of your diagnosis just minutes shy of my release from the hospital (after a 2 month stay), reversed my glee.

I won't get too sad here, I will just say that having you in my life, made it so more pleasurable and memorable.

P.S. I am home now and I know you were concerned about me. Some recovery to go through but I am on the mend.


Not the best pic, but we are getting ready for "The most straitjacketed people in 1 room" for the Guiness Book of Records.
Not sure if this attempt was recorded.  Bruce Thompson looks mad at something in this pic. 
Maybe he realized that you have a bit more hair than he does!

LA TV News was there to capture the moment. Bruce Thompson looks calmed down after being secured
in a non-gaffed jacket


Euro boys having a cold one (or 2 or 3) with Peter Pensaert (Minus goatee)

Here is some trouble!
Joe Lauher, Lars and Michael Busch (without beard) - Top Row
Me (with mustache and 50 pounds more than now) and Walking Handcuff Encyclopedia, Stan Willis.
What is it with the facial hair changes?


Mark Cannon showing the spark from that thing (Salad bowl?)   It was not comfortable.
Mustache gone!


I am glad to share these pics that I don't think I ever posted before.

You will always be in my thoughts, and I am proud that you are my friend!

My thoughts are with you Lars. We both started collecting at about the same time early 1970’s and have shared lots of information and arranged many trades. I suppose it was about 30 years since we first made contact and although we only met a couple of times at the European Conventions your knowledge and enthusiasm was great.
I often look at items in my collection and say would they be fit for the Lars Holst Collection which over the years has become The Gold Standard! Thank you for setting this and always freely sharing your knowledge with all of us.

Lars, Im so sad to hear of this and both Sarah and I have you in our hearts and thoughts. Early into my collecting years you were always there with a wealth of knowledge, willing to help out a young punk and guide me along the way. I’ve always envied your collection and the quality that you had within. All of which pales in comparison to the man you are, the passion you have and the sincerity of a person we’ve come to know. When we came to the convention on your side of the pond you blew us away with your personality, hospitality and overall genuine friendship. You truly are one of a kind and those of us who have had the privilege to know you are better people for it. Wherever your journey goes from here know that there is much love for you in this world that travels along with you.

holstcollection wrote:Thank you very much Ian for your compassion ! 

Lars

Lars, I will miss you greatly. We shared a love of the engineering of these restraints and you were always willing to share your knowledge and experience. You leave a legacy that you and your family can be proud of and your personality touched all of us.


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