THE life of a “hard-working” man who owned fish and chip shops in Kinmel Bay, Rhyl and Rhos-on-Sea has been celebrated following his death at the age of 89.
Ronald “Ron” Hardwick died peacefully on April 9 at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan, four days shy of his 90th birthday.
Known for running the “Hardwick’s” fish and chip shops in Kinmel Bay, Rhyl and Rhos-on-Sea in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s, Ron was also a fireman on the Flying Scotsman express train, and a cook in the Lancashire regiment during the Korean War.
He is survived by Trudy, his wife of nearly 68 years; his sister, Hilda; his children, Paul and Michelle; his five grandchildren; his six great-grandchildren; and his nieces and nephews.
Born in Manchester, Ron was known as a keen walker and cyclist, and met Trudy while hiking in Scotland, before they married in her native Switzerland.
Ron opened his first fish and chip shops in Manchester, before moving to Wales and relocating his business to Kinmel Bay; stores in Rhyl and Rhos-on-Sea later followed before retirement in the mid-1980s.
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His daughter, Michelle, led tributes to a “loyal” and “honest” father who was “full of humour”.
She said: “He was very adventurous; he’d always give something a go. He was very loyal, honest and hard-working. He was full of humour, and always up for a laugh.
“We all worked in the fish and chip shops with him, which was hard work, but on days off together, we’d go off adventuring. He was always encouraging us to get out and about.
“He loved driving his fast cars, and water skiing. We would travel around to different places in his campervan, parking up at night.
“One Christmas, he took a massive frozen turkey over in the boot of his car to Switzerland. When we got there, it had defrosted, and he then cooked it to perfection for the whole family.
“He loved barbecuing; he was renowned for his barbecues, and he just loved to be with my mum, and to support her.”
Ron lived in Highfield Park, Rhyl for more than four decades, and had been a resident at Gorwel Newydd care home on West Parade in the four years prior to his death in April.
His son, Paul, recalled some of his favourite stories of his late father, such as when he snuck in to a Louis Armstrong concert as a teenager, and when he slept on the beach in Blackpool, using upturned boats for shelter if it rained.
He also celebrated the life of a man who lived a “rich and full life”.
Paul said: “He loved everything Swiss, and always had a Swiss knife to hand, or in his pocket. He could repair just about anything.
“During the Cod Wars, he would drive to Hull when the shop had shut at midnight to buy cod, ensuring his customers never went without their fish and chips - a seven-hour round trip.
“He loved having friends and family round for dinner: barbecues, raclette, fondue evenings and Guiding events were all legendary - always finished off with a Schnapps or two.
“He relished the freedom of camping and progressed from no tent, to tents, then pop-top land rovers, and finally in luxury, in the beloved campervan.
“He adored holidaying with friends in the campervan, too, and went all around Europe and beyond.
“Ron’s a hard act to follow because of his values, and the fact he lived them with such ease, but the incentive for us to keep trying to emulate him is very simple: they worked out so well for him.
“He really had a rich and full life. We all have many memories, moments, thoughts and pictures that remind us of Ron and the twinkle in his eye, ensuring he won't ever be forgotten.”
Ron’s sister, Hilda, remembered her late brother as a “happy and caring person”.
She added: “I remember when he came back from Korea - he was sent there when doing his national service.
“He came through the door and my mother went to hug him, and he stopped her and said: ‘I’ve got fish and chips in my jacket uniform!’.”
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Many others also paid tribute to Ron, including one of Paul’s oldest friends, Wayne Smith, who described him simply as a “gentleman”.
Diane Waters, an old school friend of Michelle’s and whose family have known the Hardwicks for about 45 years, described him as a man with a “great sense of humour”, who was “always willing to help where he could”.
Catherine Clayton, who knew Ron through his wife, remembered his “legendary” barbecues and his “classic one-liners”.
She added: “Most of all, we remember Ron as always having a positive attitude and a smile on his face, no matter what was going on.”
Eileen and Gwyn Williams, neighbours of Ron in Rhyl for nearly 30 years, said they “absolutely loved him”.
They said: “He could do everything, from running a jumble sale, to making a barbecue out of an oil drum the correct way.
“He even fixed little wheels onto Trudy’s garden chalet so that she could turn it to follow the sun.
“We went to him for advice on all manner of things; we laughed at his campervan escapades: a week camping in London would cost him £3 in total!”
Val Morris, who knew Ron’s family since she was in primary school, recalled: “Ron and Trudy were fun, and used to take all Michelle’s friends in their Land Rover to the beach to play.
“Ron and Trudy spent a special evening with me and other ex-Guides where they recounted stories of how they’d met, and how, on a whim, Ron had gone over to Switzerland to find her.
“We really enjoyed both of their company, for friendship that had lasted a lifetime.”
Jean Cooke was a close friend of Ron’s for more than 40 years.
She said: “Ron was always there with advice, know-how, tools and hands-on help with anything and everything for everyone.
“With a smile and a joke to lift your spirits, he was our very own 'Del Boy'!
“Everyone needs a pal like Ron in their life.”
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