Family and friends turn out for funeral of Rhyl butcher who had a lust for travel and lived life to the full

Douglas Parry, who ran Parry’s butchers shop on St Margaret’s Drive before opening a second shop at the bottom of Rhyl High street, died of lung cancer on August 25, aged 66.

Mr Parry, a fan of the Whistlestop cafe, lived in Rhuddlan and was formerly of Rhyl.

Mr Parry was a stepfather to Gavin and Leanne, a brother to Esme, Ruth and Sylvia and an uncle and ‘grumps’ to Elan, Carla, Olivia, Lauren, Corey, Rudi, Romeo, Rosie, Sophie and Isabella.

Mr Parry's late partner was Sue. They had been together for 25 years.

Sue, who died in 2018, was described as his ‘soulmate’.

Prior to meeting Sue, Mr Parry was married to Helena. The couple later divorced.

Mr Parry grew up in Rhyl. Upon leaving school, he worked in Holland as an aircraft engineer then worked at Ega Tube in St Asaph and Pilkingtons on his return.

After this, Mr Douglas worked with his father [Gilbert] and took over the family business when Gilbert retired.

Douglas is pictured with ‘Bertie Brisket’, a life size mannequin used to advertise the butchers. With Esme Parry.

Sister Esme said: “He really enjoyed being a butcher and most of all loved interacting with the customers.

"Later he had lock up storage units on Cefndy Road and took over the old Woodwards frozen food factory on Ffordd Las.”

Mr Parry’s mother Ivy died when he was young. Gilbert later married Jean, who became his stepmother.

He spent time with his aunties - Syb and Joan and Joan sowed in him the travel bug.

The former St Chad school pupil [now Ysgol y Llys in Prestatyn] and a boarder at Oswestry School enjoyed multiple trips abroad.

He ‘loved' Thailand; the last holiday he went on was to scatter his partner's ashes in Thailand in February 2019.

Douglas with his partner Sue, who died in 2018

Sylvia said: “He was fun, positive, optimistic coupled with gruff but loving. He was adored by his nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

“He was mad but great fun. Always up for a laugh and never a dull moment.

"He was the life and soul of the party. He had the gift of the gab and a way with words.”

Mr Parry would often play Santa on Rhyl’s rotary club Christmas float.

Mr Parry’s stepdaughter Leanne said: “Doug came into my life when I was eight years old - 26 years ago. He was the best stepdad I could have wished for. So much fun and super embarrassing.

“Doug and my mum had a real lust for life, an adventurous pair travelling the world, hosting dinner parties. They sure knew how to have fun and live life to the full.

“He was one in a million - he has left a big hole in my heart.”

Taken in France by Douglas's friend Martin Barker

Family and friends bid a fond farewell to Mr Parry at St Thomas’s church earlier this month.

Sister Ruth added: "A packed church was a real testament to how popular and well known he was locally.

"Bikers from the Whistlestop café provided a motorcade to and from the church. Outside the church was the ‘Doug bug’ - the white Bedford rascal van in which he was a familiar sight - decorated with his pictures.

“The wake was held at the Beaches in Prestatyn and was a fitting send off to Doug, glorious weather, sunshine on the outside terrace and many friends and family all coming to pay their respects and raise a glass to a one of a kind.”