A groom-to-be passed tragically died just days after his wedding invitations were posted out to guests. Dedicated nurse Robyn Parry was set to get married to his fiancée Bryony, also a nurse, next month on August 21, but tragically fell seriously ill and died on March 17 at the age of just 36.
The couple had joyously sent out invites for their special day back in March. His sudden passing has left friends and family in a state of deep shock and sadness.
Childhood friend and designated best man, Ben Brame, had the harrowing task of informing groomsman Glyn Owen. Expecting a call about stag do arrangements, Glyn was instead met with heart-wrenching news that left him “crushed”.
On the same day the nuptials were supposed to take place, friends will now embark on a poignant journey, trekking the 130-mile stretch of the Anglesey Coastal Path over nine days in Robyn’s memory. Their goal is to raise funds for the Diamond Blackfan Anaemia Support Group UK, reflecting their commitment to a cause close to Robyn’s heart.
Robyn, an Anglesey local later living near Llandudno, battled Diamond Blackfan Anaemia since birth – a rare blood disorder that plagues roughly 7 in a million live births, which required frequent treatments at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor throughout his life, reports the Daily Post.
Robyn’s gratitude for the exceptional care he received was so profound that in 2018, he dedicated his life to serving others by training as a nurse. During seven years, he worked at both Ysbyty Gwynedd and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, caring for patients on the haematology and oncology ward up until his last days.
Having been a regular patient in his youth and later a valued nurse, tributes flooded social media from hospital staff who remembered Robyn for being a truly wonderful person.
Glyn, a 36 year old refugee services caseworker with the British Red Cross in Cardiff, originally from Bangor, shared his heartache. He said: “It was so sad when we received the news about Rob, as we had all just received the wedding invitation in the post the same day or a couple of days before. When Ben called me, I thought it was to discuss the stag-do, and it was the same for all of his other friends. To go from a moment of excitement like that to finding out the news, was crushing.
“We wanted to do something to honour and commemorate Rob, who was a really incredible person. In terms of his health, he had quite a difficult life, but he never let it affect him; quite the opposite, he had such an appetite for life and really understood the importance of grabbing it with both hands.”
In a touching tribute, friends of Rob intend to honour his memory with a walk that coincides with what would have been his wedding day. One said: “We especially wanted to do the event when the wedding was supposed to take place, as it should have been a moment of celebration for him, his family and his friends.”
Organisers are reaching out to increase participation in the heartfelt homage. They said: “We want to bring together as many people as we can to celebrate Rob’s life so we are inviting anyone who knows him to get involved; whether it’s joining us for the whole walk or just for a coffee at a cafe along the way.
“We decided to do the walk around Anglesey because of the fantastic times we shared with Rob here, and it’s where he’s from. We have so many great memories of adventures, parties, camping, beaches and so on. I have many memories of him swimming in the sea at various places around the island, swimming far out from the shore; I think he loved the freedom and the exhilaration of it.”
The event is doubly significant as it will mark 14 years since the loss of Robyn’s best friend, Lewis Darroch.
Glyn recounted: “When Lewis died it obviously had a huge impact on all his friends, but particularly so on Rob, as they were best friends since childhood. I remember vividly that it was Rob who contacted me to tell me the news about Lewis, and then to receive the news about Rob out of the blue like that too, was devastating. So it’s fitting that 14 years nearly to the day, our route will bring us to the place where someone who Robyn loved so dearly died while performing a heroic act of friendship.”
In an effort to celebrate their friend’s memory, Ben and Glyn are calling for public participation during the nine-day tribute which can include walking along the scenic Coastal Path, swimming and beach BBQs, or enjoying a pint at the local pubs they’ll visit.
Echoing the spirit of Robyn, portions of their journey will be done in superhero costumes, honouring his passion for comic books read during lengthy hospital treatments in his youth.
Ben Brame, a 34-year-old watersports instructor and electrician from Y Felinheli, encouraged local support by saying: “Look out for Spiderman and Thor rambling through the streets of Beaumaris or Amlwch in August, and please consider donating.”
For those interested in joining the event or making a donation, they’re encouraged to reach out or contribute through the dedicated JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/page/rob-parry-walk.
