Nephew of Only Fools and Horses star ‘Boycie’ John Challis was cremated in Germany before his ashes were flown back to the UK – as his heartbroken family reveal they don’t know how he died

• Carol Challis said her nephew Simon had his wristwatch stolen after his death

The nephew of Only Fools and Horses star John Challis was cremated in Germany before his ashes were flown back to the UK his family said today, revealing they still do not know the cause of death six weeks on from the tragedy.  

Simon had been working as an on-site geologist for an oil drilling company in Rehden in north Germany at the time, his father John Palmer said today.

 The 36-year-old been in the country for around four weeks and was expecting to stay for a further three before returning home.

When he did not turn up for work on July 7 his company became concerned, calling police to his hotel room where they found his body.

The Only Fools and Horses legend’s widow, Carol Challis broke the news on X, formerly known as Twitter, yesterday revealing that his wristwatch was missing following his death.

Only Fools and Horses legend John Challis’s (pictured left) widow has revealed that thieves stole a watch from her nephew’s (pictured right) body after he died last month

John’s wife Carol Challis posted this picture of her nephew when she broke the news that he had passed away several weeks ago

John’s wife Carol (pictured with her husband) Challis broke the news on X, formerly known as Twitter

She said her husband’s ‘friend’ and ‘my nephew Si’ had his belongings stolen after he passed away in July this year

She wrote: ‘Simon’s personal belongings were returned to us today from Germany, at last. Sadly his wristwatch was missing. Disappointing that someone should feel the need to help themselves.’

She also posted a photo of her late husband alongside her nephew, saying: ‘God bless these two, my much loved husband and his friend, my nephew Si.’

Speaking about his son’s death today, Mr Palmer said the family still had no idea how he died and had not received a police report or the postmortem results.

The death certificate they were sent also did not state a cause of death.

His body had been cremated in Germany and his ashes were sent home to the UK.

Speaking at the family home in the pretty Dorset village of Cheselbourne, where Simon had also lived, Mr Palmer said they don’t know it definitely was stolen.

On Sunday the family got Simon’s possessions back only to discover his Garmin Marq Adventurer watch, which is worth about £1,600, was not among them. 

Mr Palmer said: ‘We got his stuff back on Sunday and noticed the watch wasn’t there, but we don’t know if it was stolen, we don’t know if he was wearing it at the time. 

Carol penned a heartbreaking post following the tragedy last month

Simon was the son of Carol’s brother Johnny. His death comes two years after his uncle, John Challis died in September 2021, aged 79, after a long battle with cancer

‘The company he was working for have said they will check the pockets of overalls and things to see if they can find it.’

He added: ‘The insurance company that dealt with the repatriation have been fantastic, so has the company he was working for.

‘We just don’t really know anything about what happened.

‘The police attended, I think they found him, but we don’t know much more than that.

‘A post mortem was done but we haven’t been told any cause of death or sent any police report.

‘The death certificate we got didn’t stipulate a cause of death, it is all really bizarre.’

His father went on to pay tribute to Simon adding: ‘He was a very low key guy, he didn’t want a fuss made. He was just a perfectly normal popular guy.’

Carol revealed the news of Simon’s shock death last month and paid tribute to her nephew who she said was a ‘great skateboarder and especially loved his surfing down in Cornwall’. 

Challis played Terrance Aubrey ‘Boycie’ Boyce (pictured) from the first series of Only Fools And Horses in 1981, right the way through to the final Christmas special in 2003

John Challis pictured centre with the cast of Only Fools and Horses including Sir David Jason, Roger Lloyd Pack, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Buster Merryfield and Sue Holderness

Carol wrote on X around the time of Simon’s death earlier this year: ‘Rest easy Simon and may you forever ride the best waves down in Falmouth’.

In another post she added: ‘Thinking of dear Simon and hoping we can bring him home soon.

‘He was a great skateboarder and especially loved his surfing down in Cornwall and lived life ‘to da max’. What a bloody waste.’

Simon was the son of Carol’s brother Johnny. His death comes two years after his uncle, John, died in September 2021, aged 79, after a long battle with cancer. 

He was best-known for his portrayal of second-hand car dealer Boycie in Only Fools And Horses, starring alongside Sir David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst. 

Challis became a national treasure after playing the character from the first series of the beloved British sitcom in 1981, right the way through to the final Christmas special in 2003.

John Challis attending the Only Fools and Horses the Musical opening night at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2019

Boycie was married to the feisty Marlene – played by Sue Holderness – and the state of their marriage became a running joke, with repeated gags about her alleged promiscuity. 

He also reprised the career-defining role of Boycie, a close friend and frequent sparring partner of Sir David Jason’s Del Boy, for spin-off series The Green Green Grass from 2005-2009.

Challis was born in Bristol in 1942 but moved to south-east London with his parents when he was one. 

He attended the state boarding Ottershaw School near Woking, Surrey – and upon leaving school he worked as a trainee estate agent before becoming an actor. 

His father was a civil servant from Sheffield while his mother, who harboured dreams of becoming an actress, oversaw plays for youth club. 

After a brief and unsuccessful attempt at becoming an estate agent, Challis set his sights on a career in the arts. One of his early roles was playing Sergeant Culshaw in police procedural Z-Cars. 

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