Heart attack victims in Llangollen will have an increased chance of survival thanks to the legacy of a larger than life hotelier and wine bar owner.

The Welsh Hearts charity has given a defibrillator machine in memory of Gale’s Wine Bar founder Richard Gale who passed away earlier this year following complications after heart surgery.

And thanks to a £200 donation from Llangollen Food Festival the life-saving machine will now be housed in an especially designed cabinet and fixed on the outside wall of the wine bar and will be available for anyone to use in an emergency.

Father-of-three Richard was a staunch supporter of the food festival which this year is being held at Llangollen Pavilion on Saturday and Sunday, October 13 and 14.

Gales was reputed to be the oldest wine bar in Wales and was opened by Richard and his wife, Gillie, in 1977.

He believed the successful wine bars he knew around London could work in North Wales and opened in a room in a property on Bridge Street.

This was despite considerable local opposition over concerns about the potential impact “strong wine” would have on drinkers.

Despite passing on the reins to son Pip he was there every day - bringing “joy” to all who came through the doors.

Pip, who runs the 16-bed hotel and restaurant as well as four holiday cottages and two four bed apartments in the town, is proud the defibrillator is now available for public use.

He said: “Dad passed away earlier this year following heart surgery at Broadgreen Hospital in Liverpool. He had an amazing extra nine years of life due to the brilliant staff at Broadgreen following earlier heart surgery but this time there was nothing they could do.

“I can’t say how much we as a family appreciate all the staff at Broadgreen. He died on the operating table but they did everything they could for him and gave him those very precious extra years.

“It was amazing, following the first operation he was very quickly back to being the Richard Gale we all knew, a legend in his own lunchtime! Prior to the operation he was short of breath and really struggled.”

He added: “Dad had a long association with the charity Welsh Hearts and their director, Sharon Owen would come and stay for every Eisteddfod week, she was a big friend of dads.

“Dad was a big supporter and always collected funds for Welsh Hearts. He was always coming up with one fundraising scheme or another and had the charity’s collection tins on the end of the bar.”

Pip is delighted the Llangollen Food Festival committee came up with a £200 donation which has helped pay for the defibrillator housing case so the machine can be made available to everyone in the town.

He said: “Dad was a big supporter of the food festival and always had a stand. It’s something we have carried on and I’m now on the committee myself. Their donation was a massive help as we needed £500 to pay for the case.

“We have raised the rest and now the machine will be available to everyone and positioned on the outside wall of Gale’s Wine Bar. It’s really important to us that the machine is available to all and not just patrons of the wine bar or hotel guests.

“I am really proud to have the defibrillator machine in dad’s memory; it’s an amazing and a very appropriate legacy.”

He added: “Heart attacks are one of the biggest killers of people and anything we can do to give someone a chance of surviving is important and something we should do.

“I really hope the defibrillator is never used to be honest, but if needed it’s there and there for everyone.”

Llangollen Food Festival committee member Phil Davies said: “Richard Gale was a huge supporter of the food festival and did a huge amount to put the town on the culinary map. Richard launched Gales Wine Bar in Llangollen way back in 1977 and it’s now the oldest wine bar in Wales.

“And of course Pip has carried and is now a committee member and exhibitor in his own right.

“We really wanted to honour Richard’s memory and having a defibrillator machine at Gales Wine Bar and available to everyone is a really important and fitting tribute to a man who really was a larger than life character.

“The Llangollen Food Festival is all about new and exciting products and I’m delighted that Pip and his head chef, Jack Hatley are supporting the festival again this year and showing off some amazing dishes and cooking techniques in the demonstration kitchen.”

The Llangollen Food Festival will be held at the Llangollen Pavilion from 10am and 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, October 13 and 14.

To find out more about the Llangollen Food Festival please visit www.llangollenfoodfestival.com