RICHARD

I was really saddened to hear of the death of Richard Coldwell today.

Our favourite stroppy Yorkshireman has been great company over many pub crawls since I first met him at his excellent local beer fest in Clifford 3 years ago.

He was great company, and I’m missing him enormously already.

We should have been supping pints of his beloved Bass and Pedigree this month but fates conspired against us.

His beer blog was a celebration of beer and life, and his pub photos were some of the very best.

Gonna miss you mate 😢

Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

37 thoughts on “RICHARD”

  2. I am so very saddened by this news, I was drinking with him only last month in Lymington, a lovely and caring bloke, and gave me much good advice on a personal level.
    RIP Richard , top man.

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  3. They say that opposites attract… some say that isn’t true,
    But opposites can be enthralled… by that which we call brew.
    Take, for example, Al and Rich… or as they’re better known,
    Alan Winfield; Richard Coldwell… my reasoning now shown.

    Our Alan liked a back street pub… our Richard, not so keen,
    Astute was Richard ‘bout his beer… but Alan, more serene.
    Our Al was not particular… our Richard though, informed.
    Fine sense had he of good and bad… he would not be reformed.

    And who could really blame the man?… when all is said and done,
    Was brought up in a boozer he… and thought it was quite fun.
    And from this came his acumen… just how a pub should be,
    The smell, the bogs, the people too… a kind of harmony.

    The landlord too, let’s not forget… and finally, the beer,
    For pubs it should be pints of draught… he’s made that very clear.
    But if it’s bars or restaurants… a ‘modern’ beer will do,
    Perhaps a Punk or Cannonball… as long as it’s a brew.

    At home he’ll drink a Bud (don’t laugh!)… or something you can ‘neck’,
    Quite sensible our Richard was… as anyone can check.
    You’ll note, alas, I said he ‘was’… for he’s no longer here,
    I’m hoping that where ‘ere he’s gone… he’s relishing a beer.

    Perhaps he’s in the Rose and Crown… the pub his parents ran,
    That pub’s no longer of this world… but neither is our man.
    Here’s hoping Alan Winfield’s there… as rounds of beer are bought,
    For thought they may be opposites… to us they both have taught.

    That life is what you make of it… you have the only vote,
    So write a blog or simply read… whatever floats your boat.
    And when we too depart this realm… wherever we appear,
    I hope that Richard Coldwell’s there… to give us all a beer.
    ================================================

    Partly gleaned from here:

    https://beerleeds.co.uk/about/

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    1. “Perhaps he’s in the Rose and Crown… the pub his parents ran,
      That pub’s no longer of this world… but neither is our man.”

      Outstanding lines Russ.

      Thanks for a great tribute.

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  4. Obviously I didn’t know this chap in real life but I took an interest in him ,as he was a fellow Loiner.He obviously lived life to the full & I enjoyed reading about his adventures .You must be very sad to lose him .Anyway as you probably agree -grab life with both hands & enjoy every day

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  5. I too am saddened to learn of Richard Coldwell’s sudden death, as whilst I never met him, I admired his blog, his writing and his stunning photos, which were sharp, clear and amazingly well-composed.

    I must admit I only began following Richard’s blog fairly recently – and I have you to thank for that Martin, but his series of posts on the craft-beer scene in China, really sparked my interest; especially in view of my recent, and all too short, visit to the country.

    His passing is certainly a lesson that we should grab life with both hands, as you never know what is round the next corner. Just over a year ago, our General Manager at work also died, suddenly and totally unexpectedly. We miss his knowledge and skills, but most of all we miss Barry as the caring and considerate individual he was.

    Nothing more I can add really, apart from the obvious condolences to family and friends.

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  7. What very sad and shocking news 😦

    I’d been discussing options for our next Proper Day Out in Preston only the previous day. He’d had to drop out of the Uttoxeter trip due to an attack of gout, but that can’t have been responsible. I know he’d suffered a serious heart attack a couple of years ago, but he always seemed to look after himself and take his health seriously. I suppose it can happen to anyone – the rest of us, despite our various ailments, should count our blessings.

    I have to say that initially I sometimes found Richard difficult to read – you were never quite sure to what extent he was serious, and to what extent winding you up. I eventually worked out it was pretty much always the latter, and beneath the surface he was actually a very kind and good-natured chap. I suppose in his line of work he had to develop something of a protective carapace.

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  8. Very sad news. As RM said, he was great company. I will always remember him as he walked through a crowded street leading us through Leeds, made notes with his red fountain pen and his distinctive face movements and expressions. Our thoughts are with Cheryl and her family.

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      1. One of the things that really warmed one to RC was the enthusiasm with which he shared what he knew. I learned a lot from him in the limited time I spent with him. His enthusiasm was infectious. I think his passing leaves a hole in a lot of people’s lives. People who didn’t even know him that well personally.

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  10. I was expecting to work with him again at Calderdale in September. At the first beer festival I volunteered at he was so kind to me. Miss him already.

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  14. Desperately sad news Martin. I’m so sorry to hear that Richard has passed away. I was one of those who never met him but his larger than life character seemed to shine through in his blog as his recent China visit posts demonstrated so well.

    God bless you, Richard.

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  16. I was shocked to read this, the sheer unexpectedness of it has rather taken me aback. I only met Richard once, and was looking forward to seeing him again on some of the days out we were planning later in the year. His enjoyment of not just beer, but life itself shone through in his writing.

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    1. I’m mainly a reader and not a contributor, but thanks to you RM I also used to read and enjoy Richard’s blog as well. What a sad and terrible loss.

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  18. That’s terrible news – I met Richard just the twice on our Proper Days Out, where he was great company and an all-round good bloke. My condolences to Cheryl (who I also met on the pub crawls and was also good company) and Richard’s family.

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  19. We were shocked & very saddened to hear that Richard had died. The volume and tone of the responses to your post just shows how well-regarded Richard was. Fun, friendly, caring. Always interested in what had to say & happy to help out when he could. We’ll miss him greatly. Thoughts are with Cheryl and their family.

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  20. There’s not really much I can add to the dozens of comments that have been made since Martin announced the terrible news here on Sunday – and apologies for this very much being a repetition of what I posted on the Beer and Pubs Forum..
    Passing away suddenly, and at an early age, must be very hard for Cheryl to come to terms with but Richard wouldn’t have been one for gradually fading away in a poky nursing home with the atmosphere of a mid-morning high street barn.
    It is indeed “a lesson for us all to make the most of things” and with travelling extensively Richard lived life to the full in the couple of years between early retirement and his untimely death. Richard’s father died only last summer.
    Yes, “you were never quite sure to what extent he was serious” and I was gradually coming to the conclusion that Richard wasn’t really the Banks’s-Marstons Hater that he liked to suggest.
    I well remember Richard’s attention to detail and, for example, I doubt if anyone else would have noticed all those ‘bargains’ in the Rifle Drum !
    The well-illustrated Beer Leeds reports had had his own unique style and were a pleasure to read. And I think he contributed regularly to his local CAMRA magazine.
    It was in Leicester on Tuesday 17th October 2017 that I first met Richard, the occasion being the first Proper Day Out that he and Retired Martin attended. He attended about nine times since then, most recently in Rugby two months ago.
    Rather than “stroppy” Richard might have just wanted to be no less curmudgeonly than the other Pub Men. He was certainly always great company.
    I was truly shocked on hearing the terrible news from Citra at opening time on Sunday in Lewes’s Lewes Arms, and I think I was speechless for a while, but it would have been wrong for us to do other than carry on to another several pubs.

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  21. I met Richard last September when he gave a talk at our festival in Heden Bridge. He was every bit as knowledgeable and friendly as people on this blog have indicated. His talk on what makes his favourite pub was informative, amusing and illustrated with his splendid anecdotes and photos. That he kept people entertained was evidenced by the fact that he kept his audience away from the bar. He was an amusing and engaging speaker showing enthusiasm for his subject and we were very grateful for him to get us off to such a good start. We are obviously not alone in missing him and his contribution and we wish his family and friends every support at this dfificult time.

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