12/06/2026
Remembering Ron King: A True Founding Father of the PIP-UK Community
It is with a heavy heart, but with a profound sense of gratitude for a life beautifully lived, that we share the news of the passing of our dear friend, supporter, and benefactor, Ron King.
To many of us, Ron was the foundational anchor of the Poland Syndrome community. A scientist by profession throughout his career, Ron brought his brilliant analytical mind, his sharp curiosity, and his immense generosity to PIP-UK.
When Ron received his diagnosis later in life, in his 80s, his very first instinct was not to look inward, but to look outward. He immediately picked up the phone, called us, and asked a simple, powerful question: “How can I help?” From that single phone call, Ron became integral to our mission. He spearheaded and championed the creation of our international patient registry, providing the vital backing and encouragement we needed to make lasting headway. He lived his life, and led our community, by a signature mantra that will echo in our hearts forever: "There is no such word as can't."
Funeral Arrangements & Tributes
Ron’s family have kindly invited members of the community who knew and loved him to join them in celebrating his life, or to leave a message of condolence.
Funeral Details: [Funeral service is at St Mary & All Saints, Beaconsfield on Monday 22nd June 2026 at 2:30 pm ]
Online Memorial & Donations: The family has set up a beautiful MuchLoved tribute page where you can find full details of the service, share your personal memories, upload photos, or light a virtual candle in his honour. You can visit his page here: https://ronald-edward-king.muchloved.com/
Supporting Each Other Through Grief
We know that Ron meant so much to so many of you, and his loss will be felt deeply across our community hubs. If you are struggling with this news or finding things difficult, please don't carry it alone:
Share a Memory: We encourage you to use Ron's MuchLoved page to share stories with one another; finding comfort in our shared memories is exactly what Ron would want.
Grief & Bereavement Support: For anyone needing dedicated space to process grief, we highly recommend reaching out to Cruse Bereavement Support (cruse.org.uk) or calling their free helpline at 0808 808 1677.
Immediate, 24/7 Emotional Support: If you need to talk to someone right now, day or night, Samaritans are always there to listen without judgment. You can call them for free from any phone on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org.
Ron, your legacy is woven permanently into the fabric of PIP-UK. We will keep making headway, we will keep improving things for everyone with Poland Syndrome, and we will never forget that there is no such word as can't. Rest in peace, dear friend.
