Some very sad news

[sheffield hatter]

Real Ale Ray

I have been asked by Fiona to let you all know that Ray Frankland, known on this site as Real Ale Ray, died yesterday evening. He had been ill since returning from a visit to Sheffield in July, and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Fiona says he was in hospital for seven weeks and was receiving palliative care. She and Ray's mother were with him during his stay. Fiona - Mrs Ale, as she calls herself on this forum - is heartbroken, as we would expect. She says Ray was her best friend, and everyone who met them would know how close they were.

Anyone who knew Ray is welcome to add their reminiscences on this thread. If you have a personal message for Fiona and have Ray's phone number you could text her, or message her via WhatsApp. (I'm not going to put the phone number on here because of potential spam.) Or you could send a private message (link at top left of your screen) - Fiona is not a member but I reckon she'd be glad to receive your messages via Ray's membership.

I'm missing Ray already. I'll always remember the way he would walk into a pub and just stir people up with his friendliness and talkative nature, so that nearly all his reviews said what a great, friendly pub! It wasn't always the pub that was great. It was Ray.

Will Larter

[Komakino]

Thank you for sharing this tragic news with us all Will, and love and prayers to Fiona at this sad time. I had the pleasure of bumping into them both in a chance encounter, which Ray shared on the forum in this pub and a more passionate and engaging pub man you'd struggle to meet.

[PaulOfHorsham]

Devastating news. Always friendly and genuinely interested in others and what they had to say.

[aleandhearty]

I was genuinely shocked to read of Ray's death. I wouldn't claim to have known him very well, but on the couple of occasions we met I found him very personable and good company. As Komakino mentions, his passion for pubs was obvious. Sincere condolences to Fiona and his family.

[rpadam]

So sad to have lost - way too soon - a good friend to many of us.

Ray was always great company on a day out, and a source of knowledge on many matters.

Great couples are also more than the sum of their parts, and my deepest condolences to Fiona for the loss of her 'other half'.

[trainman]

Goodness, truly shocking news. Well said Will, on the matter of Ray bringing the sunshine to a pub with his genial and sociable personality, along with Fiona a truly lovely and loveable couple.
Deepest sympathies to Fi, and Ray's family and friends, RIP Ray, you'll always have a place in our hearts, tmx

[ETA]

Such shocking news, and a great loss. My thoughts are with Fiona.

[Delboy20]

Can't quite believe what I'm reading here.
Met Ray a couple of times and he was the most likeable, genuine bloke you could ever wish to meet. His passion for pubs and going out being sociable was second to none.
My heart goes out to Fiona and his family.
I will raise my next pint to him.
RIP Real Ale Ray.

[Bucking Fastard]

This is such very sad news and a personal tragedy for his family and especially Fiona.I am really shocked.

Having first met Ray and Fiona on the Nottingham crawl in 2011,I always looked forward to their company .Ray was an infectious character,enthusiastic about pubs and good ale mixed together with his natural humour.He lit up many of the crawls,and I counted him as a genuine friend who I will really miss.

He may well have visited more micropubs than any other member,I know he kept a tally and his character perfectly fitted the micropub ethos with his friendliness and ability to make people laugh.

I also remember a great day with Ray when he joined the crew for a boat trip from the outskirts of Liverpool into the Albert Dock,finished off with a pub crawl around the city with Ray in the lead.

There are several non PuG members who will also be so saddened by this news especially Colin,Nige and Clive and I pass on their condolencies.

Ray's last reviews are from Chesterfield ,so the upcoming crawl there would be a fitting time to raise a glass to honour his memory.I know it will take Fiona time to get over the shock of loosing Ray,and grieving is part of that recovery but hopefully in time she could again join in with the PuG family.

Ray,rest in peace.

Nev

[oldboots]

Very sad news indeed, all our thoughts will be with Fiona of course, she and Ray always a devoted and happy couple.

Those who had the pleasure of knowing Ray will have happy memories of him on the various pub crawls, his outgoing bright personality, his sense of humour and ability to laugh at himself always made him fun to drink with. Looking back at some of the photos of previous crawls Ray usually is there, often with a drink and almost always with a smile on his face. We will all remember various incidents with Ray, the infamous Yam Yam episode, or a fag rolling contest in a Leicester pub.

One of life’s good guys we will all miss him.