Sad News: Rider Down - The Catlass - Gail Richards

First topic message reminder :

Mainly for Gail Richards friends, of whom there are many on here... Not the best way to explain but the only way to let many of you know.

I'm just getting details through Facebook friends and the Biker FM page at the moment;


Gail Richards has passed away this afternoon in a road traffic accident on her motorcycle near Settle. The police are attending and Amber is coping but don't think it's hit her yet. Amber her daughter who is still very young. And still in secondary school.


Totally shocked, and if anyone has any contacts to find out further details, then please keep me informed.

Matt

We are sitting in a service station in Holland. Can't believe the news. We are all Gutted. Gail hasn't been on the site much recently but was always plugging us on her slot on Biker FM. Fond memories of sharing a bottle of Brandy with Gail at Rosco's house with Mechy and Greencat while they were up visiting Kev.
We will miss you!!!
Rip Gail.
Dave
Ross
Chris
Terry

Shocked and saddened to hear this news.
Gail was very much the heart and soul of the party wherever she went and whatever she was involved with.
A very active member on the old site and still popped in from time to time on here.
Shared many a ride out with Gail, many a night out.
Gail was a bubbly fun person, a great rider, a great presenter on her radio show and a great friend.
A sad sad loss.
Deepest condolences to Amber, Gail's family and friends.
Ross

Like others I didn't know Gail, but at the time of first reading this Abi and I witnessed a 4x4 reverse into a bike, tried to stop him he didn't listen to my frantic waving.

From reading the posts Gail sounded very nice and would have liked to have met her on one of our ride outs. As sad day.

How terrible, We are both so shocked at this news. Our condolences to Gails family and friends and special thoughts for Amber.

This is awful. Gail was one of my earliest Thundercat rideout friends from way back and, as has been mentioned, was always at the heart of any get together. Her enthusiasm for bikes and racing was second to none and she'll be greatly missed.

Lee

News link This too .

This is just to sad. I have raised many a glass (to many probably) with Gail. Always a great person to be around, talk to and laugh with. Gail, you will be sorely missed by so many people.

Jono

I heard the news earlier from Jono.
We only mentioned Gail and the Welshpool trips a few weeks ago and now we hear this
Sad sad news indeed.

RIP Gail.

Very sad news. I am shocked and very saddened.

Like others, I've spent many a late night chatting away on MSN with Gail and had the pleasure of meeting, riding and drinking with Gail on several Welshpool weekends.

Gail was a larger than life character and will be sadly missed.

My thoughts are with Gail's family and friends, especially her daughter Amber.

RIP Gail

Tony

Very saddened to hear that the world has just become a duller place.

Goodbye Gail, and love to all affected, especially Amber

Pete

RIP Gail, I never knew her but this news is terrible, and can tell by all the people on here she was very much loved and held in high regard!

My thoughts, prayers and condolences go to all her family and friends. God bless.

Just joined to pass on my condolences :( tragic loss.

This is from a post on Facebook ,,,,,
Andrew Gardner>Gail Richards
I have spoken to Gail Richards family today and Amber thinks her Mum would have wanted a funeral supported by bikes and leathers. The family are arranging the funeral and I will let you all know the details once we have them but If people could let me know (by message if possible please) if you would like to attend and how it will help us make the necessary arrangements. On behalf of Gail's family and friends can I thank you all for your kind words and thoughts it just helps to show just how loved and appreciated Gail was. Dave x

JDM wrote:RIP Gail, I never knew her but this news is terrible, and can tell by all the people on here she was very much loved and held in high regard!

You took the words out of my mouth mate.

Andrew Gardner shared a link.
about an hour ago near Farington, United Kingdom
The family of Gail would like to thank you for all the kind words that have been sent to them in memory of their very special, loving, caring and beautiful Mum and Daughter Gail. Anne and Amber have announced their wishes for Family flowers only please at this time and therefore if you would like to instead make a donation to their chosen charities which are the RSPCA and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance the family would be very grateful.

The Air Ambulance charity is close to a lot of our hearts in the biking world and those of you that know Gail and Amber will know of their love for animals large and small and therefore the support for the good work that the RSPCA carries out would mean a great deal to them also.

The link for these charities are here for you to use should you so wish;

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

The funeral arrangements will be made later in the week possibly on Friday and once any firm arrangements have been made we will post them here for people to see and make their relevant plans.

Amber and Anne have given their blessing for people to travel to the funeral on motorbikes as they feel this is definitely something that Gail would have wanted and appreciated.

BikerFm are going to be holding a tribute program on Friday night in Gail's normal time slot of 8pm to 10pm and they would like as many people to take part in this as possible as it was such a huge part of Gail's life.

The show can be found at the link below;

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Thank you again for all the kind and touching messages people are leaving for Gail and her family, they mean a lot to them all x

Yorkshire Air Ambulance - General Donations
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
General Donations. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance needs to raise £9990 per day to keep both of Yorkshire air ambulance's helicoters maintained and in the air.

RIP gail, a sad loss to the biking community..thoughts with her family at this time

F*** me. Bad news indeed. In fact so bad, Jenny is in tears. I'm not so far from that myself.

Commiserations to her family, especially Amber.

Kev (&Jenny)

I also didn't know Gail, but my condolences go out to her family. RIP.

Regards,

Mike

I am myself, Kev,, still shocked by it even now, it even came down to when i went to help chris out i didnt want to go on the bike, i just didnt feel right about it .

I just registered to say what anyone who has ever met her knew. She was a most sincere genuine fun loving character that will be sorely missed by everyone.
It was her that exactly 10 years ago arranged my first ride out with the northern cats. Matt (lonterra) you were there that day also.
Haven't seen her for a few years. But I feel really really sad about this news. I am sure Amber will get through this as Gail was always a fighter when needed.
Adis

ok guys gals who,s up for going i am

kwakkat wrote:ok guys gals who,s up for going i am

Still waiting for Date, Place & Timings for Gails funeral yet Pete . . . . unless you know something we don't mate

Had nabbed the following from the BikerFM facebook page...

Janice Thornton Hi, I'm Janice, the Humanist Celebrant who will be leading the Celebration of Gails life. It will be at NabWood Crematorium, Bingley Road, Shipley (on the A650). The ceremony is on Tuesday, 11th June at 11.30. Her friends are all very welcome.

I'm gonna see if I can shift some meetings as I'd like to go if I can. But I'll have to take the car if I do, cos the bike is buried in the garage at the moment.

Was nice to hear the BikerFM show, and respect to the Italian Mob for getting a message in...

But the above now out-of-date: please see Mechy's post below

Thanks Pete,

We got the same via Admin PM earlier, but wanted to get confirmation from another source before announcing. Being on BikerFM's faceborg [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] page (if it's not been blown out of the water), will do it I suppose.

Like you we (me & bea), plan to be there too . . . Travel method yet to be decided

Cheers
Tel

I have the whole of that week off work anyway, so me and Jax will both be going.

Not sure if I will be on the bike. Possibly not as I think it will be a hard ride back......

Lonterra wrote: I think it will be a hard ride back......

It will indeed Matt . . . and no shame or embarrassment in that at all !

I have been to a few repatriations of young men or women I did not know but had a similar affiliation to, . . and felt the hit. So the aftershock of a ceremony so close to home is bound to have a profound effect.