Tributes paid to retired postman from Borehamwood

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Friends and family have paid tribute to a great-great-grandfather who worked as a postman in Borehamwood for more than 40 years and passed away last month.

George Ray died on April 28 aged 85 at the Tenterden House Care Home in Bricket Wood following a long illness.

Mr Ray is survived by his wife, seven children, 11 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

His daughter Suzanne Curtis, said: “He always was there to help people and always kept himself active.

“No matter what he was doing, whether it was his job or helping others, he always took pride in what he did.

“He was a strict dad with us, but he always wanted the best for all of us and wanted us to do the best we could.”

Mr Ray was born on August 24, 1926 in Islington and moved to Borehamwood when he was ten. He later went to Hillside School, in Hillside Avenue.

He served in the army near the end of World War Two in a number of countries including Belgium, France and Sudan.

Following the army, he became a postman in Borehamwood and delivered to routes around the town for more then 40 years.

Ted Mathews, who worked with Mr Ray, said: “He was from an older generation of postman and he took a lot of pride in his work.

“He would enjoy a laugh with everyone and he really cared about the job. He was a really nice guy.”

In 1952, he married Jean, who lived in Borehamwood, at Barnet Registry office. The couple celebrated their diamond anniversary in March and received a letter from the Queen.

After retiring from his job as a postman, Mr Ray started work at Tesco as a bag packer for ten years.

Mr Ray also had a passion for history and traced his family tree back to the 18th Century. He was also interested in the history of Borehamwood.

Alan Laurence, curator of the Elstree and Boreham Wood Museum, said: “He was a lovely bloke and he knew so much about the history of the area.

“He saw the change of the town and was a great help to the museum, giving us little bits of information if we were ever stuck.”

Mr Ray was also active in the community as a member of the Royal British Legion in Borehamwood and a member of St John’s Ambulance.