RAY HUBBARD 1933–2020

Weymouth

Dad was born in Rushcutter Bay in Australia on 24th February 1933 as his parents were on their way to the Solomon Islands where our grandfather had a position as a judge.

He moved on with his parents from the Solomon Islands to the Middle East where he spent much of his childhood. Dad’s sister Ann completed their family. Once he was old enough he was sent to join Mill Hill School as this was where his father and Uncle had been educated. At that time Mill Hill School was at St Bees in Cumbria so Dad spent a short time there before moving down to Mill Hill when the school returned after the war. This was the beginning of his lifelong connection to Mill Hill School, very much a second family to him where he made many friends. He, Don Allen and Ronnie Jones were great friends ‘the 3 Amigos’.

At 18 he left school and tried a variety of different jobs before settling down in the drinks trade. He and his colleagues used to travel to France to try out different wines so that they could inform their clients on the best ones to purchase. Everyone will remember the excellent wines that he provided for all the different events he was associated with. Dad met Mum (Dorothy) at the age of 21 at a dance at Wembley Town Hall, one which Mum and her friend were encouraged to go to by their landlady. They married and this was the start of their 65 year partnership. They moved to Mill Hill after Dad finished his National Service and recovered from a broken leg – a rugby injury – with Sue their baby daughter. Ann and then Caroline completed the family.

Mum and Dad became involved with St Pauls Church, where Dad had been confirmed as a Mill Hill School pupil, the other churches having been dismissed after being doctored by Mum. Together they helped to run and organise many different events over their 65 year association with the church.

Dad continued to play rugby as a ‘fearless’ wing forward, the Old Boy teams being in their heyday at this time with a number of England Internationals. Apparently this team mainly comprised players from the unbeaten school XV of 50/51. He played rugby, water polo and swam against the school; according to one of the boys he competed against ‘he had a demon speed at breaststroke and was a dab hand at water polo’. He survived a horrendous accident at the bottom of Wills Grove, the bottom lamppost on the left being labelled by us as ‘dad’s lamppost’. Dad played rugby for a while afterwards and then took up refereeing and we have fond memories of afternoons at Headstone Lane while mum had a well deserved break at home.

Dad was a devoted OM, heavily involved with all aspects of Mill Hill School and the OMs associations. He organised many successful events with Mum’s help, always being one of the first to arrive and the last to leave. Dad played an active role in the management of Alford House for 25 years. He served on the OM’s Club Executive Committee and particularly enjoyed his year as President (2000-2001), attending various social events abroad and at home.

Dad really enjoyed rugby and contributed much to the activities of the rugby club over the years, encouraging participation from the Colts upwards. He and Mum enjoyed rugby tours with the school all over the world from South America to Torquay, making friends with many of the parents of pupils at the school. Dad was an active member of the OM’s Lodge and he practised the principles of masonry - brotherly love, belief and truth throughout his life.

He was a school governor of a local primary school, totally committed to his role in supporting the pupils and staff. Dad was a wonderful father to us, his three girls. After masterminding three outstanding weddings he welcomed his son in laws into the family and the boys remember many wonderful dinners and other events that Dad invited them to. He was a great father in law with a wicked sense of humour; Huw recalling that over a period of about 30 years whenever he phoned and said it was Huw Dad always replied Who! The whole family remember the wonderful Sunday dinners at Parkside.

Once we left home Dad and Mum travelled to many places including Egypt to revisit Dad’s childhood places, Canada to visit his sister’s family, Switzerland to visit his mother’s family, Australia to renew his Australian passport!, New Zealand and a cruise to Alaska.

He was the best grandad to Sian, Gareth, Owen, Mari and Rhys getting involved in all aspects of their lives. He was also great grandad to Evie, Lily and Amelie who he enjoyed watching play.

Comments from cards and letters Mum received sum Dad up: kind, humorous, caring, generous with an overwhelming willingness to help others and an amazing friend. As a family we have so many memories of Dad including: the black cat brought home from a warehouse he visited, the rabbit he found on the A41 on the way home one night which we found in the bath the following morning and the stories he told of his younger days. One which Ann remembers in particular was of Dad’s inaugural solo flight as a qualified pilot after leaving school. He got lost, landed at an airfield somewhere, having no money on him he persuaded someone to give him fuel and directions to fly home. These included following the railway track!

Dad survived invasive prostate cancer treatment and carried on life as normally as possible with Mum and the families support. Dementia took a lot of Dad away towards the end but he was still as always a family man, remembering all his family and enjoying the sounds of his great grandchildren playing.

We will all miss him and never forget him for the fantastic man he was.

Sue, Ann and Caroline.