26/01/2026
R.I.P. Mr Creature
It was with the greatest sadness that I learned of the death of my dear old friend and NABD Legend, Mr Creature (aka Stephen Osborn).
‘Mr C’ was a greatly loved stalwart supporter of the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD) for more than 25-years.
He was a larger-than-life character, instantly recognisable with his tatty old pirate hat and his ‘Glamorous Assistant’ Polly the pirate’s parrot on his shoulder.
He was probably best known for his Mr Creatures Dejavu Roadshow, and its spectacular lightshow, which evolved over the years to outdo anything the rally scene had ever experienced before.
I first teamed up with Mr C when he became my DJ and co-host in the Adult Marquee at the You’ve Been Nabbed Rally (a job he relished for more than 20-years).
It proved to be such an effective and joyous collaboration that we repeated it at all of the NABD national events, including the Autumn Nabd’ness Rally and the Nabdonia Rally for many years.
We also teamed up for non-NABD events, including, The Farmyard Party at Helmsley in Yorkshire, where Mr C was the resident DJ in my Rider’s Rights marquee for 15-years, until his declining health forced his retirement in 2020.
Away from the public gaze, Mr C had been a steadfast fundraiser for the NABD, with collection pots on his disco kit, running raffles, and even the extremely laborious online selling of batches of old bike magazines that people used to donate to him, quietly raising hundreds of pounds annually for the NABD over many years.
When, with the tireless cooperation of his lovely family, he began to organise his own, ‘Any Spare Change’ Rally, those hundreds of pounds became thousands of pounds per year!
I think the Any Spare Change Rally ran for six years, though it may have been seven. I do know that it raised well over £20,000 for the NABD and Mr C and his family took a great deal of well-earned pride in that fact.
Over recent years, his health, both physical and mental, had steadily deteriorated and he had spent some time in residential care. My most recent conversations with him had been quite heartrending, as his state of confusion and the torment in his mind were starkly evident.
I cannot deny that the sadness I felt on receiving the news of his death was somewhat assuaged by the fact that he is now beyond the reach of the pain and torment that this veil of tears had so unjustly heaped upon him.
These last few years must have been a hellish time for his lovely long-suffering wife Lynne and the rest of the family. My heart goes out to them all, as do my fondest regards!
Mr Creature has more than earned his place in the NABD Hall of Fame, he will long be remembered as an NABD Hero, and I know that would have pleased him greatly.
Personally, I will always remember Mr C as the big, silly, happy, somewhat sweaty, caring, magnanimous and gallant soul who I came to know and love due to our shared belief in the NABD.
R.I.P Mr Creature, you silly smelly old crumpet, you take with you more love and respect than you could possibly carry!
Rick Hulse
NABD Chairman
