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

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.

Taken from Bikerfm facebook page !!

Gail was so popular that to give the family the privacy that they need at this time they would like to respectfully request that the funeral be attended by Family and close Friends only and ask people to please respect their wishes at this very difficult time.

Gail "thecatlass" was so popular and well known throughout the biking community that we wish to celebrate her life with her biking family in the best way possible and therefore we will be organising a Memorial Day in the coming weeks where we will be celebrating Gail "thecatlass" Richards life. There will be loud music, noise and bikes and in conjunction with Bikerfm we will be playing some of Gail's past shows, including her interviews, legendary bloopers and that laugh! ...... in short everything that made thecatlass who she was and made her so special to so many people!

Can I please ask that all posts and requests for information or with any help to arrange this special day come through myself Andrew Gardner (Dave) either by private message, to Inga Tordoff or to the following email address;

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Thank you for all your understanding at this difficult time and I look forward to seeing you all in the very near fture

Dave

Thanks for posting that Mechy...as Tel predicted, I've been blown out water somewhat, so I've edited my post to try and avoid confusing people. Whilst sorry to miss the funeral, it will spare people the sight of me blubbing (having the cat put down a few weeks back was bad enough; I'm now embarrassed to walk past the vets) and it would be nice to have a celebratory event. I may have even dug the bike out of the garage by then.

I've been in contact with Andy ("Dave") over the last week or so, and I've emailed him to ask the question on the attendance of ourselves.

My interpretation of the message - rightly or wrongly - is that Gail's family are wanting to draw a distinction between friends who have know Gail for a number of years, and those who may only know her more solely through "being a fan" of her work on Biker FM, or similar.

I would hope that the "Old Guard" here on the forum would be included in the former, but I have asked Andy if he would be able to clarify this for us.

The last thing I would want is for us to attend "en-mass" if we were "not really invited" (For want of a better phrase).

I'll post back once I get a response.

If it's a "Yes", then this also means I will definitely be going in the car.

Regards,

Matt

Thanks for that Matt, for myself i need to clarify this as need to book the time off work !!!, i would really like to pay my respects properly if you know what i mean ??

disappointed, would really want to be at the funeral and give her a big send off with loads of bikes and people. obviously I will respect Gail's families wishes.
steve..........

mechy69 wrote:Thanks for that Matt, for myself i need to clarify this as need to book the time off work !!!, i would really like to pay my respects properly if you know what i mean ??

This was a shock to me and Hilary as well as we've met Gail on a couple of the early Welshpool meets. Just like to add our condolences as well.

Sorry for being a bit late but only heard about it from the boys in Italy on the little tour I took them on. So sad

Hi all, sorry for any confusion and upset caused over the funeral. 
When I originally spoke to the family they thought they would like to have bikes at the funeral but as the days went on, Anne (Gail's mum) was becoming more and more anxious and they made the decision that the funeral would be a quiet private service for the family and a handful of close longtime friends and that I would arrange a Memorial Day for Gail's biking family.

I will update this site regularly but if i can ask you to visit the events page and join the event if your are coming we'd be most grateful as we need to have a rough idea of numbers for the camping, ride out and catering in the cafe!

Kath the owner of the Manor Cafe has been at Scarborough this weekend drumming up support from the road racing community so along with the ride out, Gail's shows and music we are hoping to be running a charity auction and have some of the road racers present as well.

This is a celebration of Gail's life so I'm sure you'll have lots of stories and tales to share and I will be bringing a book for you all to write your messages in and also any stories or memories that you had of Gail "thecatlass" Richards that I will pass on to Amber when she is ready to read them.

Again appologies to anyone that wished to attend the funeral but I am sure you will all understand the reasons why and this event will give you all along with her many other friends the chance to pay you're respects in typical Gail fashion...loud and proud! ;o)

If anyone has any questions then please pm me and I'll get back to you.

Cheers
BD