Yes it was a great shame.
I had been starting at a blank screen for several weeks hoping it was not the end.
But after reading the posts here, it seems that it is.
I found it a very user friendly forum, very well laid out.
I did not see any major disputes.
I was very disappointed that the owner did not give us a warning or a chance for someone to take it over.
It may have been time or financial reasons, or just lack of interest from him or lack of discussion posts or the spam
There was obviouly a peak in 2015 (with the 200th year anniversary)
But on doing some research I have come to realise that forums all over the world are dying, due to other forms of social media, Facebook, Redit and Blogs etc.
Experts on forums are saying that forum software is partly to blame as it still looks the same as it did 20 years ago and this is not good, as most peope now use mobile phones to access the internet.
I'm probaly a luddite, as I still use my desktop.