Beeswing pub landlord Phil Cain killed in A166 crash near Garrowby Hill (From York Press)

Beeswing pub landlord Phil Cain killed in A166 crash near Garrowby Hill

10:00am Wednesday 10th February 2010 in

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A popular York pub landlord has been killed in a road accident as he travelled back to his home in East Yorkshire.

Phil Cain, 66, died 30 minutes after bidding farewell to staff at The Beeswing pub in Hull Road.

The collision, on Friday afternoon on the A166 near Garrowby Hill, involved Mr Cain’s Toyota Carina and a Toyota Lucida. He died after being taken to York Hospital.

His wife, Julia Cain, said she felt “robbed” and told how she had found out after her husband’s death that he was secretly planning to leave the pub trade to spend more time with her and his beloved grandchildren.

The couple were married in 2004 in their home town of Driffield.

She said: “No one knew him like me and no one loved him like me, but he will be missed by many.

“He had been at the Beeswing for 23 years and before then he used to own the chip shop down the road.

“He was known for his fish and chips because he would cook them very well.

“All his grandchildren loved him to bits.

“He had three stepchildren – two girls and one boy and he looked on them as his own.”

Mrs Cain said her husband divided his time between the pub in York and his family life in Driffield, though recently the travelling and the pressures of running the business had begun to take its toll.

“He had two wives – the other one was the pub,” she said. “He was so happy for the last four weeks, but now I know he was going to give it up.

“He was looking forward to a holiday in March because we haven’t had one in five years.

“I just keep looking at the door expecting him to come in – I am in bits.”

Staff and customers at The Beeswing paid tribute to him.

Barmaid Carly Taylor, 21, said: “He was such a kind person.

“He would do anything for anybody and he will be sadly missed. It’s such a shock – I don’t think it’s sunk in yet.

“It seems weird that I was talking to him just half an hour before.”

Speaking of their good friend, John Marshall and Andrew Outerson said: “Thank you for all the memories and good times we had together.”

Mr Cain’s funeral will take place on Friday, at 4pm, at Octon Crematorium, in Driffield.

There will be a coach leaving from the Beeswing at 2.30pm.

Phone the pub on 01904 410377 for details.