Son pays tribute to ‘well-known’ 102-year-old who died after alleged assault

Son pays tribute to ‘well-known’ 102-year-old who died after alleged assaultPhillip Ormerod, from Cwmbran, died in hospital this week following the incident at the Crow’s Nest pub in the town on August 1.Phillip Ormerod, aged 102, from Cwmbran, who died after allegedly being assaulted at the Crow’s Nest pub in the town (Family handout/PA)

A 102-year-old great-grandfather who died after allegedly being assaulted at a pub was a “well-known character” who locals would buy drinks for, his son said.

Phillip Ormerod, from Cwmbran, died in hospital this week following the incident at the Crow’s Nest pub in the town on August 1.

His son, Robert Ormerod, told the Press Association his father had dementia and lived alone in the Llanyrafon neighbourhood he had raised his family in.

He said his father used to visit the Crow’s Nest regularly and described him as a popular character who young people would buy beer for when he visited the bar.

Robert Ormerod, whose father Phillip Ormerod, 102, has died after allegedly being assaulted at the Crow’s Nest pub in Cwmbran (Eleanor Barlow/PA)PA Wire

Mr Ormerod said: “I feel sad – even though he could be difficult because of his age and dementia, still, you get used to him being around.

“Even though I suppose he wouldn’t go on forever, he would’ve carried on I think for a bit.”

Phillip Ormerod, 102, was a great-grandfather who worked as a design draughtsman before his retirement.

He continued living in Llanyrafon following the death of his wife 40 years ago and was visited often by his two sons.

Phillip Ormerod had dementia and lived alone, his son said (Family handout/PA)PA Media

Mr Ormerod said: “I used to visit him regularly, and then towards the end me and my brother used to keep the house clean as best we could, and buy his food because his eyesight had deteriorated.

“(He was diagnosed with dementia) a couple of years ago, he probably had it before that.”

“He’s well-known around here, although a lot of his generation are gone,” he added.

He said his father would visit the pub two or three times a week, where he would drink beers, and described how he became a familiar face to some locals.

“I suppose he became a pub character,” he said.

“It became a youngsters’ pub, although it used to be a local pub where all ages went, and it was run very strictly by the landlord at the time, I remember.”

Emergency services were called to the pub in Cwmbran, South Wales, at about 10.25pm on August 1 following a report of an assault.

A 56-year-old man from Llanelli was arrested on suspicion of section 20 assault and remains under investigation.