Ronnie Marchant

RONNIE Marchant, known as ‘Big Ron’ to the many of friends who shared a pint with him at the Prince of Wales in Kentish Town, has died aged 54.
He died in his sleep at his home in Kiln Place, Gospel Oak, on April 9, hours after laying out his bets for the next day’s Grand National.
Hundreds of families and friends packed his favourite haunt in Prince of Wales Road on Friday for the wake.
Landlord Frank Carty said: “He’s going to be missed. It was like having Tommy Cooper in the bar every night. He loved conversation, he loved winding people up. Everyone just warmed to him instantly.”
He was born in the Protestant Shankill Road area of Belfast, a scene of bitter fighting throughout the conflict in Northern Ireland.
He left school at 16 to work as a labourer. He met his future wife Valerie in a Belfast nightclub, and they married aged 19.
The couple had four sons between 1971 and 1982, moving to London shortly after the birth of their youngest, Mark, partly to escape the Troubles, partly to be with family already in London. He never lost his Belfast accent.
The family of six spent their first year in London living in the spare room of Mrs Marchant’s mother’s flat in Kentish Town Road before moving to Kiln Place.
Ten years ago, surgeons removed a tumour from Mr Marchant’s brain, but he was left with high blood pressure and unable to work.
He became a familiar face on the north London pool tournament and cribbage scenes, while regulars at the Prince of Wales were used to his deadpan teasing and practical jokes.
His widow Valerie said: “Everyone knew they could talk to Ron and he would listen, so he became incredibly popular. He had more friends than I could keep track of. Half the cards we’ve received, I’ve no idea who they are from.”
A memorial service is being planned in Belfast for the May bank holiday weekend.

JONATHAN ALLEN