Sadly, on the weekend, we lost messageboard user and massive City fan Mike Roderick who posted as 'The Voice of Reason'.

Mike held strong opinions on the rebrand and was instrumental in setting up some of the early Keep Cardiff Blue campaigns.

He had been poorly for just a short time.

Mike had been keeping a blog in recent months as he thought he might have cancer. But he was given the all clear only to have other complications with his respiratory system. His last entry was less than seven days before he died.

His family updated the blog on Sunday.

Finally off the rollercoaster

This blog is being written by Jen, Elis, Ceri & Carys, as opposed to Mike, so please forgive our lack of eloquence, he was the wordsmith in the family.

It is with deep, deep sadness that we have to tell you that Mike passed away peacefully this morning at about quarter past two. The hospital rang Jen as 2am, and within half an hour the four of us arrived at Llandough, but he had died before we got there.

The shock at the speed of this illness and the plummet in health that Mike experienced in this past week has floored us all, but we are just so grateful that it was not a long, drawn-out affair resulting in discomfort and poor quality of life that could have been a scenario.

Yesterday, Saturday, will be a day we will always cherish. Sedated, Mike slept for most of the morning, but at one point in the afternoon he opened his eyes and summoned us round. We did so, pulling the curtains around us. He then proceeded to talk to us, slowly, but confidently, for about an hour. He was clear, lucid and authoritative, telling each of us individually how much we meant to him and setting out his wishes and plans for our futures. We in turn were able to tell him how much we appreciated him as a husband and father and to say thank you for all that he has done and represented for us. It was highly emotional, but one of the most special times we have spent as a family. To be all together, the five of us again, with Mike at the helm, was so precious and each of us have drawn such comfort from that memory.

We would like to thank you all for your love, concern, care and of course the many prayers that you have given us over the last 2 months. Whilst at the moment things are very raw for us, we confidently knew that Mike’s last laboured breath on earth this morning, was his first in Heaven with his beloved Jesus whom he had such a close walk with throughout his life. We are confident and comforted that he now has the new set of lungs that he always wanted.

Love,

Mike is pictured below with his family.

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