David Rymer

When he began giving them, he was accompanied on the piano by his mother.

Captain of Wharfedale Greens in the 1960s, he had played
rugby into his 40s as prop
forward and hooker, and had
the cauliflower ears to shows 
for it.

For 10 years, until 2000, Mr Rymer ran the Yorkshire Dales National Park Visitor Centre in Grassington, and before that was a greengrocer.

He and his elder brother Peter were brought up in Valley View, Rylstone, near Skipton, their mother Janet and their father Reg Rymer, who had operated a mobile grocery business since 1928.

The couple’s younger son went to Ermysted’s Grammar School in Skipton, and from there to Askham Bryan Agricultural College.

He did his National Service – mostly in Germany – and afterwards got a job with the
Milk Marketing Board while waiting for an opportunity
to take up the career he had wanted to follow since early childhood.

His mother’s family were farmers, and he had set his heart on becoming one too.

At a dance in Harrogate he met Margaret Lunn, a nurse, and they were married in 1960.

His opportunity to farm came when he was offered a farm manager’s position at Burnt Yates, but when his father was taken ill, the couple moved to Linton Falls near Grassington, and the two brothers helped run the business.

They bought another van, and initially purchased produce
from the Blackburn wholesale fruit and veg market but
later transferred their loyalty
to the wholesale market in
Leeds.

To get the best that was on offer meant leaving the house at 4am – and because of his singing engagements, Mr Rymer might not have got to bed before midnight.

Operating two vans, the brothers were able to expand
the business from the area around Grassington into Littondale, Wharfedale and Malhamdale.

In 1980, they sold the vans and bought a florists and greengrocers in Grassington.

Dealing with the public was still at the core of the business, and personable, good tempered and very calm – except when playing rugby – Mr Rymer was in his element.

The brothers sold their shops in 1990, and it was then that Mr Rymer began working for the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and once again he was in a job which brought him into daily contact with other people.

Apart from his easy ability to make friends of complete strangers, it suited him because of his detailed personal knowledge of the area.

After becoming ill 12 years ago, Mr Rymer was nursed at home by his wife until his death.

He is survived by his wife Margaret, their daughter Julie
and son John, and four grandchildren.

The funeral will be held on Wednesday June 12, at the church of St Margaret Clithero, Threshfield, at 12 noon.