Abdul Latif RIP
There is a genuine sadness in The Journal's offices today at the news that Abdul Latif - curry king and self-promoter par excellence - has died.
It has pretty much been the rite of passage of every young reporter in the North-East to write stories about Mr Latif, such was his genius for marketing himself and his restaurant.
His free offers - curry for life to Jonny Wilkinson, a free meal for every Newcastle United season ticket holder if they win the Premiership - were legend, gaining national fame when Viz started to feature Mr Latif in its pages.
Last year, he even put on a free meal for The Journal's staff to help us celebrate being named North-East Newspaper of the Year and rather splendid it was too.
The region will be a duller place without him.
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Mr A Lafit was a great man I am deeply in shock over the tragic news of his passing.He was full of life and always has something to say. A hardworking man and he loved the people of newcastle. I only seen him 2 weeks ago and he looked healthy. I will miss him greatly as we all will .Long live the lord.
I am so shocked to read of Abdul's death.
I have been a regular at the Rupali/Curry Capital for years, but have never finished a "Curry Hell".
My thoughts are with his family.
I agree the region with be a lesser place without him
When waiting to do my first ever live tv interview in Newcastle Civic Centre, I happened to be with Latif. He could see how nervous I was. He looked at me and said "now smile, laugh to yourself, out loud! Make a show of happiness to yourself and you will feel the nerves go. You will do much better." I tried it - he was right! I've used the method ever since, his gift to me for my whole career. And he in turn remained an ambassador for inner peace his whole life.
Lembit Opik MP
we are all truly saddened at Adessi to hear about Abdul Latif.
He worked with us many times over the years and we helped him set a world record for the longest distance takeaway in 2001. It was the most fun I have ever had at work and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him.
He was a great host at his restaurant and was always generous with his time and his enthusiasm.
He was a wonderful character, and a man with great warmth and charm. A real loss to the North East.
I was the recipient of the curry Mr Latif sent to Australia as part of the Guiness Book of Records attempt. He was a lovely man and every time I visited him after that I was greeted like a long lost friend. I won't know where to go for a curry in the Bigg Market now, though I am sure Mark will know!
It was a total shock to the system when I heard the terrible news that Mr Latif passed away on Sunday evening.
For a man who was so full of life it seems such a travesty that his life was taken from him at such a young age.
As everyone who met Abdul would agree, he was a charismatic, positive and very loyal person. He loved Newcastle and he loved its people. He is going to be a big loss to all comunities accross the region.
My deepest sympathy goes to his family.
Latif was a long-time friend of our family and the news of his passing came as a great shock.
What's impressed me the most over the last few days is the number of people who have contacted me out of the blue - including old schoolfriends and people with whom I have had no contact for over a decade - to express their grief and share their sadness. Being such a PR-minded man, I think one of the greatest tributes you could pay to Latif is that everyone seems to have a story involving him!
A fantastic ambassador for the region and someone who always greeted his friends, his customers and life itself with a genuine smile, he'll be sorely missed.
I used to go with my father to the Rupali, my mother passed away and my father was left alone at the age of 86, after mentioning this to Mr Latif he used to stop me in the Bigg Market if he saw me and make me take curries, nan breads and rice home for my father at no cost. I later realised that he was doing this even though his restaurant was in financial difficulty.
He always was a generous, respectable and truly caring man who will be missed by anyone who took the time to get to know him.
My friend was one of the last to take part in the curry challenge and as my video below shows the Lord of Harpole was a funny and gracious host,he will sorely be missed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN2IqSkh0vI
I was shocked to hear about Abdul passing away. I worked in Curry Capital just a couple of years ago when I was a student. He was a very nice man! He was always trying to think of marketing ideas and got me to type a few press releases and send them to the papers! He had a good sense of humour and sent me home one night with a portion of the worlds hottest curry to trick my friends and flatmates!
My brother Dave and our friend Dave Westwell first met Mr Latif when he firt opened the Rupali in 1977. We were invited to join in his 10th and 20th anniversary celebrations and he counted us as some of his oldest customers. He was a kind and generous man and often supplied free curries to my brother during his extended stay in hospital in the 1980s. We will miss him.
Most Admirable person in my life. I worked
as his PA in last year when I was a student in Northumbria ( 2006/2007). He has given me a true love like a father . I am feeling like I have lost my dreams to succeed. He was such a wonderful personality always encouraged me to achieve the heights of success in everything I do. I am really missing you Boss !!! Luv u more than myself .
A tragic loss to the Geordie culture. We will never find a more comic and generous curry genius as this man. On many occasion I have hosted a curry hell competition in licensed premises I have ran in the town centre over the years. On every occasion he came to witness his culinary wizardry in action. A great loss to us all. Never to be matched...the late lord of Harpole.
Abdul was a wonderful personality always kind and generous, he made everyone most welcome. He did a great deal for the region and he will be sadly missed by many.
Our deepest sympathy to his family.
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