Obituaries Raymond (Ray) Smith 1931 2017 A former chief trading standards officer from Doncaster trading standards, Raymond Smith better known as Ray has died. Ray was born in 1931 in the White Rose County of Yorkshire, where he spent most of his life. Ever the hardworking enthusiast, Ray pursued life to its fullest from an early age. A piano player, keen cyclist, scout and navy cadet as a teenager, perhaps Rays biggest life-long hobby was philately (stamp collecting), and he amassed an extensive and valuable collection of stamps over the years. It was during his younger years that he met the love of his life and his future wife Mary. Until the age of 17, Ray attended Freeston Grammar School. When asked which subjects interested him, the eager young Ray responded everything. Though offered the London Matric Scholarship, Ray opted to remain in Yorkshire, joining the weights and measures service to help provide for his family, including his three siblings. At 18, Rays navy cadet experience led him to the Royal Navy, where he conducted his national service on minesweepers. Afterwards, Ray returned to the West Riding County Council Weights and Measures Department, in the Pontefract divisional office. He later joined the county headquarters in Wakefield, where he qualified as an inspector, and his portfolio covered all eight divisions of the then largest county in England. He was always interested in professional progression and became one of the first in the UK to obtain a Diploma in Consumer Affairs, travelling across the Pennines to Manchester to attend evening classes during the early 1970s. As his career progressed, he became instrumental in tutoring many trainees through their studies, including friends Tom Philpott and Robert Grice. Ray served in West Riding until the local government reorganisation of 1974, when he transferred to South Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council, serving under Stan Gascoigne and, later, Bob Wright. After the abolition of the Metropolitan Counties in 1986, Ray became chief trading standards officer in Doncaster, where he remained until his retirement in 1992, though he kept in contact with friends and colleagues until the end. Rays passion for the piano continued throughout his life, and he developed a love for the organ, too, joining societies and regularly holidaying at festivals across the country almost always accompanied by Mary. He loved his cars, from his first two-tone Vauxhall Victor to his VW Polo, which he liked to drive at high speeds. However, with the exception of his wife, Rays biggest love in life was the French language, which he learned at school and in which he became so fluent that he was often mistaken for a Frenchman when holidaying in France. Ray and Mary were married for 64 years. They have two children, Kathryn and Martin, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Rays funeral took place at Rose Hill Crematorium, Doncaster, and was attended by friends and colleagues from West Riding and South Yorkshire. We offer our sincere condolences to Rays family. Compiled by Robert Grice, with contributions from family and colleagues Credits Image: To share this page, in the toolbar click on