大象传媒

What a life my late Father (Ray) had to the grand age of 90, he was born on 30th nov,l913 at Derby(deceased July,2004 at bridlington his home town) he was one of two sons (Ronald) being the other 2 years older,the family moved considerably as his father(Percy) was a Prudentialman,Rays formative years of education were at Ranskill/Blyth but mainly Louth Lincolnshire l925,where Ray had also Raced Motor Bikes at Cadwell Park grass track,he then moved to Hull in the early l930s where he trained in Architects Office,he changed to taking examinations in accountancy when he moved to Bridlington where he was called up on Xmas Eve to Fulford Road Barracks,York he then was sent to Leeds briefly then on to Manchester and Royal Army Pays Corps Nottingham also London,he also worked at Leicester pays office also Hollingswood(nr.Manchester)l942/3 working alongside Second Lieutenent "Clifton James" at Leicester he appeared in the film "I was Monty"s Double",as he was similar in appearance to Monty,the unit was based in an old clothing factory opposite the Central Railway Station at Leicester and then moved to Nottingham, during his time in the pays corp he was also a morse operator and was in touch with French Resistance movement later in life he heard and tracked down one of his many contacts,but when he got a weekend pass he would travel home to Bridlington from Leicester to Nottingham victoria Station he made several sketches and paintings of the trains from memory in the l980/90s.
Fortunately Ray had a Great Sense of Humour,as a youth he learnt Piano at Louth lincolnshire,where he was taught by a mrs.stephenson who had a Fruit Shop it still remains in the town today(2005)run by same family,also became a Church Organist doing concert recitals Priory Church Bridlington late 1940s era also playing at many other churches these included ranskill,blyth,louth,skegness,derby,nottingham,banbury,london,totnes,scarborough,leicester,felixstowe douglas(isle of man) which he continued to do for 60+ years in his locality,he could play/improvise from memory also read music and recorded many tunes,he had further abilitys in playing an
accordian,banjo/ukele/guitar and his father (percy) had been a prisoner of war in the lst world war but ran a concert party and also played violin a very musical family,both wrote verse some being published also short comedic plays too.
After a short time (Ray) was transfered to the RAPC at Nottingham where he was billited with the "Mann" Family and their only daughter "Irene" who has retained everything that Raymond obtained for her as a child,as one re-established contact ,he joined the "George Mitchell Choir" in its formative years there was also a concert party of ats girls too one being Ethel Flink,he played the Piano at Choir practice as George was also an accountant too,on one occassion (Ray) drove the army lorry having collected the Choir from the Barracks and took them to Newark Palace Theatre,where they did a stage show returning in the early hours of the morning and arriving back at the barracks at 2am,to be on the parade ground again at 6am!,this story was not related to me till some few years ago by my late Father,when I made a special trip to Newark Palace Theatre to see Roy Hudd on stage,as suprise for my Father,it was more a suprise for myself,when Dad related "I WAS ON STAGE HERE 57 YEARS AGO"!!! but theyve filled in the orchestra pit!,we also had the pleasure of chatting with Roy Hudd President of the Music Hall Society.
A most unfortunate incident occured to my father when he got shot on the "Riffle Range" by the Army Sergent!,by accident but the bullet glanced my fathers arm,yet the mark remained there forever-a lucky escape but hed refer to it as "Shot by Rick-O"Shea"!,yes their was always a punch line of comedy.
Furthermore hed survived an incident,when put into milatary hospital at Lincoln and was strapped down under radiant heat by a canadian nurse,she forgot about him and he couldnt reach the buzzer and nearly fried,fortunately someone else came in time to save him,he related that later on he and his friend had dropped her in a "Cold Bath" of Water and that shed never foget about leaving anyone in such a situation!,but he never forgot the incident and always related I wonder where she is now!!
The army choir visited many places inc.Woolaton Hall,during the war years he never complained despite his war injurys having fallen awkwardly on ice,it is with much pleasure that I have relating this briefly but during the past fifteen years since the sad loss of his late wife (Joyce)who had been the Deputy Food Officer for Driffield Area but originated from Manchester and was also involved in on Stage War time Entertainments, I managed to track down the original members of the RAPC who he had retained contact with, plus his billit friends and visited many,so many interesting storys were related that one has documented,as five generations of showbusiness on both sides of my family tree and a truly remarkable father of late,I made it my duty to track down every friend that my Father had not seen in years so we could meet up with them again at Nottingham,Derby,Manchester,Leeds,York,so one has documented much further,Ray also composed and sketched many of the places over years as had learnt the art working in an architects office in Hull prior to war,plus was army photographer too doing devoloping and printing,so every photograph is fully detailed for future generations,as the family managed and ran concert partys during war years and prior private recordings were also done these still exist. On leave one time returning from Nottingham to Bridlington,his home town he was on the railway station at Hull when one of the heavist air raids occured,one Bomb Struck the "Cecil"Cinema quite near the station,at the very place where Ray had once played its Cinema Organ some years prior,the cinema was obliterated yet rebuilt years later on the opposite side of the Road.
During another outing to London having been working very hard but on leave without a pass!he was approached by the Red Coats on train as with his friend and asked "What Unit are you From" they both replied "Army Pays Office" OH! Good said the Redcoats you pay our Wages but they never asked to view the pass!,hed been working so hard that he arranged to meet with a friend underneath the Station Clock,regretably he didnt realise their was more than one CLOCK at the station and that the friend hed been going to meet up with was under the other station Clock at opposite end of platform so they never met,their is nothing funnier than TRUE LIFE and LUCKY ESCAPES its so so True,and various commendations were merited and he owned up re the pass,with appology yet the Sergent admitted their had been a clerical error and he was perfectly entiled to a Pass.
After the War Years Ray returned to a life in accountancy at Bridlington and many other places he Married in l947,yet retained a most active amateur life on Stage at various times with his wife Joyce appearing in many shows together,at the same time as retaining contact with his many friends in Theatrical Proffession.

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