Hambledon has paid its respects to two residents who contributed a great deal to village life over many years.

Ray Williams, who died in January, took over the running of the village shop with his wife Pat on his retirement in 1982 and together they were involved in a host of Hambledon activities.

Raymond Smith, who also died in January, played an important part in the development of Hambledon Cricket Club, the fete and many other aspects of village life.

The lives and achievements of both were celebrated at packed funeral services at St Peter’s Church.

This month’s Parish Magazine has reports on both and these articles can be found here.

Ray Williams, OBE 1922-2016

“A personal view of My Dad” by Patrick Williams at his father’s service of thanksgiving at St Peter’s Church on 2 February 2016. It was a chance to say farewell to a former long-serving St Peter’s church treasurer, churchwarden and verger; treasurer of this magazine and village shop owner.

First of all, on behalf of Pat, Jack and myself, thank you all for coming today. It is so nice to see the support that you are giving us at this time.

Dad was organised and a careful planner. In fact, he had planned the whole service down to the words, music, who should say what and the entire contents. To start I would like to read the following from his “Funeral Arrangements”

“As to my fimeral service, I have some strong views on its contents. If I were to sum up my life in a sentence, I think it should be “I tried to do my duty” and this of course reminds me of the words of Jesus recorded in Ch. 17 V10 of St Luke ’s Gospel. “We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which it was our duty to do”. With that in mind, it is my wish that there should be no tributes or anything in the nature of an eulogy but just a simple Christian message.”

In the order of service it says “Tribute” so the Christian message I would like to add is simple — it’s “be like Dad”!

Dad started work at NIO (National Institute of Oceanography) in 1955 following on from some time at the Admiralty. He worked under three directors and had nine secretaries in 27 years. Asked why he had so many, his response was “they all left to have children!”. It’s great to see two of them here today.

Mum and Dad moved into Tigbourne Court in November 1956 and then to Bermonde in Spring 1957, the same time that Ted and Eileen Elton moved into the Rectory.

It was following Dad’s retirement in 1982 that the shop and Post Office in Hambledon became our day to day existence.

Dad married Pat on a Tuesday — half day closing! His love for Hambledon, the Church here, Pat and the dogs was evident. We are now on the fifih “Jan”.

He liked things to be done properly, slapdash annoyed him. The flag needed to be flown on special occasions and thanks to Derek for flying it today.

In keeping with my Dad’s wishes, this is not a tribute or a eulogy, well in my mind it’s not. We would like to thank you for all the cards, letters and wishes that we have received and would like to quote a few words from them…

“A real good bloke — A “Ray” of sunshine”
“How much he taught us”
“He contributed so much for so long”
“He could be relied upon to know the answer to any village issue”
“The font of all knowledge — A real presence”
“A charming man — A wonderful man”
“My memory of Ray is friendly and welcoming”

Hambledon has lost a true man of the Village My Dad: To finish, I would like to quote a few words from Elizabeth Waring, and it’s great to see her here today:

“Those we hold most dear never truly leave us. They live on in the kindness they showed, the comfort they shared and the love they brought into our lives”

My Dad

Raymond Smith 1942-2016

Honouring a great village benefactor and friend to so many. An appreciation by Jane Woolley with excerpts from the tribute at his service of thanksgiving given by his sister Hilary.

Raymond Smith died on 22 January 2016. He had lived at Stepaside, with Peggy and their children Rosie and Charlie, for nearly 20 years and he was an indispensable part of village life though perhaps not many people knew that as he would never, ever, draw attention or even allow attention to be drawn to all that he did to help make Hambledon the place it is to-day. The Cricket Club would be a shadow of its present self; village fetes wouldn’t have been half as much fun; there could well be no Hambledon Community Fund; the recent transformation of the Almshouses would certainly not have taken place in such record time; and the Parish Council accounts would definitely not have passed their annual audits. He was extraordinarily generous with his time, his money, his advice and his support and, above all, with his love for Peggy and his children.

At his funeral service on 5 February St Peter’s Church was jam packed – it was standing room only, as befitted someone who had contributed so much to everything he did, locally or further afield and whether work or play. To quote from his sister Hilary’s tribute:

“Raymond’s work was characterised by enormous diligence, discretion and the integrity and high standards which he exhibited throughout his life. He was a shining example of what it is to be loyal.”

He brought all those characteristics to his life in Hambledon, and at Stepaside in particular where he was able to indulge his love of home and garden. It was open house to family, friends and friends of friends: in entertaining he had few equals as the family poem, The Legend of the Great Raymondo, recounts:

On matters of fine dining, nibbles, wines and scrumptious bites
Very few could match his knowledge and devotion.
If it called for jam, or sizzled, heíd have it in his sights;
Like Ninja he could swoop in one deft motion.

He also had few equals as a creator of a garden. Beautifying Stepaside was one of his great delights: he had a landscape designer’s eye and the trees that he planted were as perfectly placed as they were beautiful. But as much expertise was lavished on the vegetable garden where everything grew to order: you could sit there as happily as you could under the trees, or beside the pool, over a cup of tea or a glass of wine and putting the world to rights which you always did if you were with Raymond. Conversations with him were unique – but so was he.

To quote from some of the numerous letters which Peggy received:

“we valued time spent with Raymond and always came away feeling better for the experience”

“there was never a dull journey when he was on the train and never a dull party when he was there”

“wise, warm, wonderful – always interested in the welfare of others”

Whether we knew Raymond as family, as a friend or as a benefactor, we shall all miss him enormously – but weren’t we lucky to have had him as a part of our lives.