A MODEST, fun-loving family man from Petersfield has died aged 63.

According to his family, Alastair Ray died peacefully at Wenham Holt care home in Liss on January 30 after a “long and brave fight against bowel cancer”.

Mr Ray was an active member of the Petersfield community, primarily with the Round Table, with whom he served as chairman, and he was one of the four founding members of the Petersfield Christmas lights committee in 1993, alongside John Crowhurst, Richard Bryant and Ted Stephens.

He was also instrumental in the creation of the town’s annual fireworks display, which will celebrate its 25th year in November. Despite his ill health, he was still helping to sell fireworks tickets in Rams Walk from his mobility scooter last October.

As chairman of the Petersfield Carnival committee in 1990, he was involved in raising £10,000 toward buying an ultrasound machine for the new Petersfield Community Hospital, which opened two years later. He also helped organise blood tests in conjunction with Petersfield Hospital, the samples being sent to the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Research Centre, in order to promote the use of a National Donor Register in the UK.

In 1976, while studying at the Merchant Navy College in Greenhithe, Kent, Mr Ray met the Duke of Edinburgh who was officiating at the ceremonial opening of some new college buildings.

He also met Archbishop Desmond Tutu when he visited Petersfield in 1988, having driven to Heathrow Airport and collected the dignitary to bring him back into town so that Archbishop Tutu could deliver the Eucharist of Thanksgiving for the work of the South African Church Development Trust at St Peter’s Church.

Mr Ray also took on the role of chairman of the parent teacher association in 1998 at Langrish Primary School, where his and his wife Angela’s children were taught.

When Round Table initiated the Petersfield Ups and Downs charity cycle ride, Mr Ray was keen to try out the route, which he did with his son Chris. The cycle ride has since become an annual fixture and Mr Ray acted as a marshal on the course at the bottom of Harvesting Lane, known with affection as ‘Ray Corner’ by fellow Round Tablers.

The eldest son of the late Alan and Mary Ray, formerly of Goodyers in The Spain in Petersfield, Mr Ray began his working life as a radio officer in the Merchant Navy. He enjoyed seven years travelling all over the world before joining family business Gammon and Smith Builders Merchants in Petersfield, where he worked in the timber yard, going on to be manager. When the company was taken over and became Sharpe & Fisher, Mr Ray moved to their timber depot at Littlefield Road, Alton.

Before he became too ill to work, Mr Ray was employed by Jeld-wen as a stair technician, a role which saw him measure, estimate and draw up plans for bespoke staircases.

Mr Ray is survived by Angela, his wife of 30 years, son Chris and daughter Kathryn. He will be greatly missed by his four siblings, 17 nieces and nephews and six great nieces and nephews. Nothing was more important to Mr Ray than family and he loved to gather them together for parties, with barbecues being his forte.

After the Merchant Navy, Mr Ray never lost his love of the sea and when battling his illness had enjoyed a trip on the Solent with the Sailing for Cancer Charity. He also had a great love of the outdoors, whether in his garden planting vegetables, long walks in the countryside, or at Hayling beach.

Following a private ceremony at The Oaks crematorium in Havant, a memorial service was held at St Peter’s Church. Donations are being made in his memory to The Rosemary Foundation and Macmillan Cancer Support (Midhurst) via Rowlands Funeral Services (Petersfield).