I’m sad to report that Martin Ray died on 23 July, 2024, at the age of 78, as a result of complications following several months of treatment for a brain tumour.
Born in 1945 and raised in Battersea, south London, he attended Shaftesbury Park Primary School and gained a place at Emanuel at the age of 11. While at school, Martin was active in many sports, including boxing, rugby and cross-country running.
He graduated from Liverpool University with a degree in geography. Martin inherited his enthusiasm and determination from his father and, throughout his life, he participated in a wide range of activities, including badminton, rock climbing, skiing, squash, tennis and sailing.
His interests were wide – he owned a series of Triumph TR sports cars and built and raced a Caterham Seven both in the UK and Europe. When not racing he would take a more relaxed mode of transport in his narrow boat “Satisfaction” (a Rolling Stones reference). But even then, he would always rise to a challenge – such as entering a canal lock side by side with a friend’s boat without touching the sides of the lock! Martin’s interests also extended to a love of good food; the first step in planning an excursion always entailed finding the best restaurants for lunch and dinner.
In 1967, Martin’s first job was with CAV Limited (a subsidiary of the Joseph Lucas vehicle electrical systems company) in the Organisation and Control Department. He left CAV to join a small group who launched a new IT consulting company called Butler Cox & Partners in 1977. Martin became the director of the Butler Cox Foundation, which advised major companies on the strategic application of the new science of information technology. Here he developed his skills in management consultancy and marketing.
As he came from south London, it was perhaps surprising that he became an Arsenal supporter at an early age. His father, a Chelsea supporter, once took his young son to Highbury and, from that day, Martin never wavered in his support for the club. In 1996, when Arsenal sacked its manager, Bruce Rioch, he applied for the job but was beaten by Arsène Wenger. Martin was very proud of his rejection letter!
When Martin retired from full time work he became a very active volunteer at the Pendon Museum in Long Wittenham, Oxfordshire. The museum is renowned for developing the art of fine scale modelling and its major exhibit is a very large diorama featuring highly detailed 1/76 scale models of real buildings in the Vale of White Horse as they were c. 1930. They are set in a representative landscape that includes hand-detailed period trains of the Great Western Railway. Martin’s talents in marketing and his energy, determination and endless flow of ideas made his contributions particularly significant. In 2015, he became a member of the first group of Pendon Trustees and took on the principal responsibility for marketing activities for the charity. Even during his recent illness he was still working on new projects for the Museum.
He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Paul Ellis (OE1957-64)