‘Superman’ Ronnie has a fighting spirit

8:22am Friday 9th May 2008

He may not have the super hero's ability to fly or be sporting a Lycra suit, but to the medics who have treated him Ronnie Bray is Superman.' Ronnie, whose stage name during his days singing on the Bradford pub circuit was Dave Barry, became known as Superman by the medical teams who nursed him back to health after he was diagnosed with a rare form of bowel cancer more than two years ago.

Listening to what he went through, I'm amazed that he is here to tell the tale. Ronnie says he owes his life not just to the surgeons and nurses for his treatment and care, but to the staff in his local pharmacy who, he says, played a major part in saving his life.

Ronnie's problems began when he complained to his doctor of stomach pains. He was sent to Bradford Royal Infirmary where he had three polyps removed from his stomach but, despite undergoing surgery and taking medication, the pain continued.

Ronnie recalls mentioning to staff in the Lloyds Pharmacy in Greenside, Cleckheaton where he collected his medication that he was still in pain.

"I said I was in terrible pain and I told them it came on at one o'clock every morning," he says. "They said there was something wrong somewhere and I should be getting better by now. They said The next time the pain comes on please ring for an ambulance'."

Winifred Howard, a dispenser at the chemist for 47 years, and her daughter Kate who also works there, says: "He has come in here for years and he was going downhill. I said Don't you think you should get further treatment?' It went from there.

"It's just something you do. It's not just about serving people, you don't want to see anybody poorly."

Ronnie took their advice and was taken to Dewsbury District Hospital where it was discovered he had cancer in his bowel which needed to be operated on immediately. Ronnie's top bowel and part of his colon were removed. "I went from 13 -and-a-half stone to five-and-a-half stone in five weeks," says Ronnie.

He spent seven months recovering in Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, where he underwent another operation to repair some damage to his kidney. "That's when the nurses called me Superman," says Ronnie.

Eventually he returned to the Cleckheaton bungalow he shares with his wife, Josie.

The couple met 51 years ago when Ronnie was in the Army, doing National Service, and Josie worked in the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, catering for the Army.

Ronnie calls Josie, the mother of their six children, my hero' for her care and support throughout his illness.

In two-and-a-half years he underwent three major operations. He had his third operation to remove his kidney last May after it was discovered the cancer had spread.

"I spent three days in intensive care and had a 12-and-a-half-hour blood transfusion," says Ronnie.

The 71-year-old has made a remarkable recovery and he can't thank his supporters enough. He is so grateful for what he considers to be the life-saving' actions of the staff at his local chemist that he wrote to their company head office.

Ronnie's gratitude extends to the medical staff for their continuing care and to his family and friends, many of which he met during his days as a semi-professional singer on Bradford's pub circuit.

Known as the Mardi Gras' singer, Ronnie models himself on Mario Lanza, a star he fondly remembers from his favourite films.

Ronnie followed his mother, Winnie Bray, into entertaining. His voice is charged with emotion at his fond recollection of his mum singing out loud in the streets following the declaration of the end of the Second World War.

He tells proudly how she became a well-known singer on the Bradford pub circuit.

"Mum was always singing. She was a barmaid at the Ivy pub in Barkerend Road and she sang there. Those were the good old days," says Ronnie.

When his father was killed in a road accident in Germany, where he was posted during the war, Winnie was left to bring up their young son alone.

Ronnie was 11 at the time, but as soon as he went into the Army he paid pay his mum 15 bob a week' from his Army pay to help run their home.

In later years, the tenor singer set his sights on a stage career. He took part in and won local talent contests around the county and even had his own agent who was pushing for him to go professional.

But, with a growing family to support, Ronnie continued lorry driving during the day and performing at night.

He performed at the same Bradford pubs as the city's veteran rockers, Smokie, and performed alongside stars such as Marti Caine, who he auditioned with for TV talent show New Faces at the City Varieties music hall in Leeds.

He also worked with comedian Freddie Starr and Drighlington organist Arnold Loxam.

"It was like trying to get on X Factor but in a different way," Ronnie recalls.

In the 1980s the Telegraph & Argus reported on his success when he beat more than 100 acts to win a talent competition in Hull.

He loves singing and would regularly get up and entertain, along with other performers, at the Woodlands pub in Oakenshaw before his health problems started.

Now Ronnie is putting his energy into getting better. "I have amazed myself but what has kept me going is singing and the ability to be happy," he says. "And the people who have stuck by me. They all sent me a card from the pub hoping I get better soon.

"The way I look at it, no matter how bad you are there is always somebody worse."

Adds his pharmacy friend Winifred: "I'm just pleased he's all right because he is a lovely man."

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