Heartfelt tributes to pharmacist who served community for more than 30 years

Former pharmacist Raphael Richman, who has died aged 91.

Raphael Richman ran a pharmacy in Shiney Row from 1951 to 1985, travelling to work from his home in Gosforth, Newcastle, - by getting three different buses at first before buying a car.

He had the pharmacy building extended during the 1970s, before deciding to sell up to another company and retire.

His son Jeffrey, 63, today paid tribute to his father, who died aged 91 on July 18.

“A lot of people in the area will remember my father so I wanted to let people know he had passed away,” said Jeffrey.

“He was very popular in Shiney Row and he often used to go around the old miners’ homes to give them oxygen as part of his job.

“He never had a sharp word for anybody and he never swore either.

“The people of the area really took to him.

“I really think he served the community with distinction.”

Mr Richman had a heart attack at the age of 58, with his wife Errol persuading him not to return to work so that they could enjoy retirement together.

His interests once he had given up work included bowls.

Mrs Richman sadly passed away in 2003 and in 2011 as he began to suffer with health problems relating to cardiac failure, Jeffrey and twin sister Lee-Anne Cranton decided to move him to Hertfordshire where they live.

“As a family we still own a laundrette in Shiney Row so there’s still an attachment for us,” added Jeffrey.

“He knew how unwell he was for the past few years and he wasn’t able to get about as much.”

Mr Richman leaves his two children, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

In a poignant coincidence, his grandson Matthew’s partner Tanya gave birth to their child Asha just 20 minutes after Mr Richman passed away.