Stephen Rattenbury

1949 - 2023

LYME Regis has been saddened by the death of Stephen Rattenbury, amember of one of the town’s most respected families.

Steve, 73, died at his home in Windsor Terrace, surrounded by his family after an illness, borne with great fortitude.

He was the oldest son of Mrs Celia Rattenbury and the late Mr David Rattenbury and the grandson of Alderman Albert Lane, former town clerk and Mayor of Lyme Regis.

He is survived by his mother, wife Sue, children Kirstin and Alistair, four grandchildren and four brothers – Brian, Stuart, Andrew and Simon.

Steve was educated at St Michael’s Infants and Primary School and the Woodroffe School. He left school at the age of 15 to join the Royal Navy as a Boy Rating serving for 10 years during which time he sailed into most of the major ports in the world.

After leaving the Navy, Steve worked mainly in engineering for such firms as JH Shand of Axminster.

Steve was a respected member of the Lyme Regis branch of the Royal British Legion and the Montague Lodge Freemasons.

He retained a life-long interest in sport, being a popular member of both Lyme Regis Football Club and Uplyme and Lyme Regis Cricket Club and was included in the squad which took part in the cricket club’s 100th anniversary game at Lord’s.

He was also an enthusiastic supporter of the football club’s twinning arrangement with Creully in Normandy.

Club president Philip Evans MBE writes: “All five Rattenbury brothers are renowned for their sense of humour. Being in their company, you were always assured of an hilarious night out.

“Some of their antics of five brothers growing up in the in Rattenbury family home in Summerhill is the stuff of legends.

“Entertaining runs in the Rattenbury family, their granddad Albert Lane being a great raconteur. Brother Andrew is a well-known actor and talented script writer and Brian is one of Lyme’s most popular stage performers. Stuart and Simon share the family sense of humour.

“In recent times Steve became a member of the Community Players and demonstrated that he was no slouch in comedic delivery.

“Steve was extremely well read, making him an excellent quiz team member, and could hold a conversation on virtually any subject you might want to mention, always enhanced by his unique dry humour.

“We will miss him greatly at the football club where our after-match drinks were always enhanced and made more enjoyable by Steve’s presence.

“His passing is a great loss to Lyme and the sporting fraternity in particular.”