Managing director of Morgenrot dies, aged 47

Published: 05 September, 2011

Ray Flynn, managing director of The Morgenrot Group passed away last weekend aged 47, after a battle with cancer that was diagnosed earlier this year.

Flynn was forced to take a backward step from the company in order to start treatment in March.

Rudi Plath, The Morgenrot Group's founder and chairman believes the industry has lost one of its most "knowledgeable, hard working, honest and jovial characters" who was much loved and respected both within the company and in the trade as a whole.

"Ray was more than a colleague; he was a true and close personal friend who will be missed by everyone he came into contact with.

"He was a credit to himself, our company and the industry as a whole and my thoughts go out to his children, Helene and Daniel, his family and close friends at this difficult time."

Joining Liverpool wine merchant Scratchards straight from school as a warehouse stock assistant, Flynn spent 19 years with the company, learning the trade and working his way up through the ranks.

In 1999, he joined Morgenrot as commercial director of Spanish and German beer imports and development before being made managing director in 2003.

In his nine years he doubled the company's turnover from £2.5 million to £5 million (year ending April 2011) but he was instrumental in forging links with prestigious companies such as Tesco, Matthew Clark, Waverley TBS, Booths, Fullers and Lanchester Wines.

The funeral ceremony will be held, today September 5 at 12.30pm at Astley and Tyldesley Methodist Church, Elliott Street, Tyldesley Manchester M29 8JE.

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