2:36pm Wednesday 10th February 2010
By Richard Catton
TRIBUTES from fellow York landlords have been paid to pub owner Phil Cain who was killed on Friday in a road accident in East Yorkshire.
Mr Cain, who ran the Beeswing in Hull Road for 23 years, has been described as hard-working, decent and genuine by those who knew him in the trade. The 66-year-old had been planning to retire next month to spend more time with his family at his Driffield home.
Sue Watson, landlady of The Shoulder of Mutton in Heworth, said: “It’s a struggle in this trade and he is going to be sadly missed.
“He’s been in the business for 23 years and before that he ran his fish and chip shop so he is very well known.
“I wish his family well.”
Glen Molloy, landlord of the Brigadier Gerard in Monkgate, has been a close friend of Mr Cain for 20 years.
He said: “I think everybody who knows him will feel sorry for his family. He was a hard working and decent fella.
“He was genuine and will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him – and he knew a lot of people.”
Mr Cain died in York Hospital early on Friday evening after being involved in a collision with another car on the A166 near Garrowby Hill.
His wife, Julia, only learnt of the tragedy when she phoned her husband’s mobile phone and was told by a nurse that medical staff were fighting to save his life. Tragically her husband had died by the time Mrs Cain arrived at the hospital.
Anita Adams, landlady of the Golden Slipper in Goodramgate, and committee member of the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations, said: “He was a hard working licensee who, like most of us, has started to lose a little confidence in the bar trade but still battled on.
“When he should have been retiring on the results of his hard work he still had to work and now his life has been sadly taken from him.
“It’s very very sad. I know he had been planning to retire for some time. It’s tragic that someone who has given so much to this industry has died before he could enjoy his retirement.”
Mr Cain's funeral will take place on Friday at 4pm at Octon Crematorium in Driffield.
A coach for mourners will leave the Beeswing at 2.30pm. Phone the pub on (01904) 410377 for details.
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