Raymond Samuel Marks passed away on Thursday, 2nd February 2023, aged 80, at Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex.
Raymond started life in Herne Hill, London, where he showed his intelligence, creativity and spirit from an early age. He started work at the London Press Exchange, where he met his wife of 56 years, Sheelagh. Raymond went on to study creative advertising at St. Martins College, London, and worked on familiar ad campaigns such as the Milky Bar Kid and the Stork Margarine Taste Test. Raymond moved his young family to Melbourne, Australia to work with Olgivy and upon returning to the UK, the family settled in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. At this time, Raymond began the next phase of his career, starting a successful Market Research agency, VAR International, which delivered research to clients such as Volkswagen and Toyota over the course of 20 years. Raymond’s work took him all over the world, and he traveled extensively in Europe, the US and Japan. As Raymond moved closer to retirement, he enjoyed a new focus and outlet for his creativity in photography and musical composition. He photographed catwalk shows at London Fashion Week, society events and portraits, and composed a selection of pop songs. Raymond was a regular guest on local radio shows, talking about his photography and music and sharing his passion and creativity.
Raymond enjoyed a lifelong love of the sea, and as a RYA Coastal Skipper, spent many happy times sailing with friends and family aboard his yacht, Finlass. Raymond’s love of the sea was a strong reason for moving to Selsey, West Sussex and eventually to Bracklesham Bay, where his last view was of the Solent and the Isle of Wight, watching the yachts sailing in the bay and enjoying the spectacular sunsets.
Raymond is preceded in death by his beloved Mother, Elsie, his son, Alexander, and his parents-in-law, John and Charlotte.
Raymond is survived by his beloved wife, Sheelagh, daughter, Yiannik, son, Daymonde, son-in- law, Peter, daughter-in-law, Diana, grandchildren, Illiana, Dylan and Davion, and grand-dogs, Kira and Drago.
We invite you to join us in remembering Raymond and giving thanks for his life at the Chapel Service and the Thanksgiving Service. Please share your memories as we say to Raymond thank you, and that’s a wrap!
