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The nephew of Only Fools and Horses star John Challis has died, the family have confirmed in a heartbreaking statement.<\/p>\n
In the statement, they added that the man, Simon, 37, had died in Germany, and that when his things were returned to them, one of his belongings was missing.<\/p>\n
The news was broken by the late Challis\u2019 widow, Carol, who wrote on Twitter, aka X, that \u2018Simon\u2019s personal belongings were returned to us today from Germany, at last.<\/p>\n
\u2018Sadly, his wristwatch was missing.\u2019<\/p>\n
She said it was \u2018disappointing\u2019 that \u2018someone should feel the need to help themselves.\u2019<\/p>\n
Alongside the statement Carol shared a photograph of Challis, who died in 2021, with his nephew Simon in a grinning snap.<\/p>\n
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She added: \u2018God bless these two, my much loved husband and his friend, my nephew Si.\u2019<\/p>\n
The family were met with an outpouring of love and support, with fans flocking to X to share their condolences.<\/p>\n
\u2018That\u2019s absolutely unbelievable \u2026 I\u2019m sorry that happened,\u2019 one person wrote.<\/p>\n
\u2018Very sad to read that,\u2019 another said, while one said it was \u2018despicable,\u2019 adding: \u2018Thoughts are with you all.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018Sorry for your loss, tough times,\u2019 another offered.<\/p>\n
Simon died in July at the age of 37 while in Germany, with his body repatriated to the UK in August to lay him to rest.<\/p>\n
He is the son of Carol\u2019s brother Johnny, and a nephew of Challis\u2019 by marriage.<\/p>\n
Carol often shared sweet messages about her nephew to Twitter, revealing he was a keen surfer and a doting uncle to his sister Laura\u2019s baby girl Alice.<\/p>\n
In July, following Simons\u2019 death, she wrote that she hoped he and Challis were \u2018somewhere up there playing their guitars, downing a cold beer.\u2019<\/p>\n
His death comes two years after beloved actor Challis died from cancer at the age of 79.<\/p>\n
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A statement from his family at the time announced the news \u2018with heavy hearts,\u2019 saying: \u2018Our dear friend and yours, John Challis, has died peacefully in his sleep, after a long battle with cancer.<\/p>\n
\u2018He will always be loved for being \u2018Boycie\u2019 and leaves a great legacy of work that will continue to bring pleasure and smiles for many years to come.<\/p>\n
\u2018Please respect the privacy of John\u2019s family and friends at this difficult time, and be assured that in the future there will be an occasion to celebrate John\u2019s life \u2013 when everyone will be welcome to come along.\u2019<\/p>\n
Challis starred as Boycie in Only Fools And Horses alongside Sir David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst for 22 years before going on to star in the spin-off The Green Green Grass.<\/p>\n
He also portrayed Monty Staines from the seventh series onwards in the ITV sitcom\u00a0Benidorm\u00a0from 2015 to 2018.<\/p>\n