TRIBUTES have been paid to a village pub landlord who died at the weekend.
Mike Ford, who managed the Farmers Arms in Kelsall for four years, passed away on Saturday after losing his battle against cancer.
Family members described the popular 70-year-old as a ‘larger than life’ character and being in charge of a traditional English pub had been his ‘lifelong ambition’.
He died at the Hospice of the Good Shepherd in Backford and leaves daughters Carinth and Ashley, brother Stephen and grandsons Josh and Alex.
Carinth said: “He was so happy and so proud to be running this pub.
“He took great pleasure when people told him that this was the village’s traditional pub.
“Everyone here has been unbelievable. We have had such a lot of well-wishers.”
Ashley added: “Nobody knew his age until last month! He was such a larger than life character.
“We would encourage everyone to come back to the Farmers Arms to have a drink after the service.
“That would be the way he would like to be remembered.”
Originally from Yorkshire, Mike settled in Kelsall in 2006 after spending a lot of his working life in South Africa, Nigeria and Zimbabwe fulfilling a wide range of professional roles.
Messages of sympathy have been left at the pub, on the junction of Chester Road and Waste Lane, while others have been posted on the village website.
Kelsall resident John Hammond said: “Mike really appreciated his time in the village and was highly regarded by his loyal locals. He will be truly missed.”
Mike’s family are inviting members of the public to a memorial service at St Philip’s Church on Monday at 1pm.
They have asked for mourners to refrain from giving flowers but donations to the Hospice of the Good Shepherd will be welcome.
All are invited to the wake at the Farmers Arms after the service.
