Ray Clark 1914-1991

Ray with wife Vera c1940s outside Hall Park gates

Young Bandsman Ray Clark

Ray in the 1930s

Raymond Clark was born on 6^th December 1914 at 57 Midland Road, the youngest of 5 children (one died in infancy). He went to the Primary School then in Moor Road and on to the Secondary Technical School, then in the Hayway.  On leaving school he went to learn the trade of a clicker in one of the shoe factories (Selwoods?) and in his early 20’s moved to the factory owned by his Uncle and nearer to his home, Jacques and Clark in Station Road. He worked there until the factory closed around 1985, taking over from brother Maurice as the foreman clicker.

Most of his life outside of work was centred on activities and life of the Rushden Mission Church. When the church had its first minister Rev. Ernest Bromage in 1925 Ray (as he was known) soon noticed his daughter Vera and so started a long friendship, mostly followed in the Christian Endeavour meetings, the theatrical productions and the Tennis Club, leading to them marrying in 1939. Always very careful with money, they saved hard and were able to start married life in a new house at 99 Hall Avenue. They were joined in 1940 by their only child Michael. The particular house was selected by Ray because it looked on the street plan as having the longest garden of all the houses on the Hall Park side of the road, indicating Rays second passion, his garden. This was soon ‘extended’ by an allotment in Wymington Road – which by the 1960’s had become three plots!

Because of bad varicose veins Ray was not able to serve with brothers Len and Maurice in WW11 but did service as an Air Raid Warden. The third brother Stanley was killed by enemy action whilst working in the clicking room of Cave’s shoe factory.

Maurice, Stan and Ray all played with the Rushden Mission Band, Stan becoming a very talented Cornet player, Maurice conducting the Band for many years, and Ray playing at some time or another in every section of the band, ending up (because no one else had long enough arms) on an old style G (Bass) trombone, and then when Maurice retired taking on the role of Conductor. Ray was Conductor /Bandmaster from 1980 until his death in 1991.

Ray conducting a Christmas concert at one of the Mission Band venues

Within the life of the church, Ray served as a Sunday School teacher, as Society Steward (following Len), and as Circuit Secretary of the Wellingborough Circuit of the Wesleyan Reform Union.

Office and status were never important to Ray, who gained far more satisfaction from playing in the Band and growing plants and vegetables to supply friends in the Church.

The most outstanding attribute of Ray was his memory, all the details of his and Vera’s extended family, the text and content of sermons he had heard 30 years previously, and the background and reason for everything and anything he did.

Ray and Vera celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on 4th August 1989.

Ray and Vera Clark's Golden Wedding on 8/4/1989

Vera who was born on 7th March 1916, sadly died on 7th February 1990.

Ray died suddenly on 22^nd March 1991.