Born Hemel Hempstead – 25th March 1931
Only child to parents Stanley and Irene
Ray moved from Hemel to Tottenham London in 1935 as his father changed his job.
Family then moved to Enfield in 1937.
1949 – 51 after finishing school Ray went into National service mainly based in Kenya.
In 1952 returning from Kenya he took a job at McAlpine’s where he became a Quantity Surveyor and stayed with them until his retirement in 1989
During his work for McAlpine’s Ray worked on oil rigs travelling to Scotland and spent a couple of years commuting to Paris even learning a little French so that communication was easier as dealing with the French as you can imagine wasn’t easy.
Ray’s father passed away in 1968
1983 Ray moved to Bognor Regis with his mother Irene, choosing Bognor Regis as they had family ties and had spent a number of years enjoying holidays including owning a boat which he kept nearby. Salcombe became a holiday destination for him and his parents for many years meeting the same families each time.
Ray first met Janet (his wife to be) in the mid 1970’s in Enfield as she and her husband were members of a camera club he attended; they stayed friends even though he moved to Bognor Regis. When Janet’s husband passed away Ray invited Janet to visit Bognor Regis for weekends as she was living in Enfield, they became firmer friend going on holiday and spending more time together eventually marrying in 1988. Elizabeth, Janet’s daughter was also living nearby with her husband.
Ray’s mother passed away in 1988
Ray and Janet loved bowling, they joined the Middleton bowls club and Arun indoor bowls which became a passion for both, they became a collector of many trophies as they were good, they made the most of their lives together, holidaying was always a favourite.
Sadly, Janet passed away in 2005 after a long illness.
Ray passed away at home on the 12th November 2018, Aged 87 years. He will be sadly missed by all his family and friends.