The following biography and comments were the Programme Notes written for the Music at Christmas concert 2004 - Ray's final concert leading the Orpheus.

Ray was born in Chatham and gained valuable music tuition from an early age within the local Salvation Army Corps where he took responsibility for the Songster Brigade, and was then Bandmaster for fifteen years. Kent Music School trumpet lessons while at secondary school were an additional part of his musical background. Further experience was gained as a member of H.M. Scots Guards Band and formal studies were undertaken at Stockwell College of Education, Bromley where he read music as his main study and whilst there he was responsible for the Chapel Choir. After qualifying, he taught music and mathematics first at Aylesford Secondary School and then at the Gordon School, Gravesend, before joining the K. C. C. Instrumental Scheme as a peripatetic brass teacher in the Swale District.

During his thirteen years in that capacity, he worked at Swale Music Centre as Assistant Head of Centre before transferring to Kent Music School and being promoted to Head of Centre. He was appointed Area Director for East Kent in 1987, based in Canterbury, where he revitalised the Music Centre and conducted the Youth Orchestra and Youth Choir. He has worked with the Kent County Youth Orchestra and Wind Orchestra and, for many years, was involved in the Kent Music Summer School held at Benenden. Following Kent Music School re-organisation in 1997, he had responsibilities that gave him a countywide view of Youth Music in Kent. A six-month period as Acting Director of Kent Youth Choirs brought him into close contact with many fine young singers around the county, particularly the members of Kent Youth Choir and Kent Youth Singers, conducting them at several concerts, including a tour to Belgium. Ray has also enjoyed working with Kent Youth Singers from time to time since then as guest conductor.

In March 1996, Ray was invited by the Music for Youth organisation to form and conduct a 250 voice Kent Schools’ Chorus, drawn from the southeast of the county. The Chorus was formed to take part in a concert at the Royal Festival Hall. Following the success of this venture, Ray was asked to conduct the Chorus at the Schools’ Prom in the Royal Albert Hall during the following November. On this occasion the Chorus was over 600 strong, being augmented by more singers from Kent and by choirs from Surrey and Northamptonshire. In April 2000, Ray conducted a similar performance at Skyscape, Greenwich. He retired from Kent Music School in August 2002 after 34 years of work in music education in Kent.

Having become Conductor of the Orpheus in January 1985, Ray retires this evening after 20 seasons of working with its members to provide music making which is both artistically successful and enjoyable for performers and audience alike. He pays sincere tribute to the many people with whom he has been privileged to work during that time: Society members who have held post as Officers of the Society (Chairman, Secretary or Treasurer), Committee Members, Librarians, Orchestral Secretaries, Programme Secretaries, or Webmaster, and to reserve pianists and relief conductors. In addition, there are all of those who have taken on other important but unnamed tasks week by week, including the setting out of chairs and equipment for rehearsal, providing the break-time drinks, transporting the borrowed orchestral equipment and preparing practice tapes and newsletters!

Ray would also like to give due recognition to all those instrumentalists who have played in our Orchestra, many having given excellent service over a great number of our concerts. The Society is indeed fortunate to have such support. Ray is keen to highlight the consistent enthusiasm and hard work of the Society’s members, not just on concert days but also in the weekly rehearsals, when things don’t always run smoothly! They are the life-blood of the Orpheus. He also acknowledges those who have supported the Society’s cause from beyond its membership: Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Patrons, Front of House Staff, Recording Engineers and those who have so willingly and frequently worked for the ever important fund raising aspects of the organisation. This leads Ray to thank all of you, our ever appreciative and most welcome audience! Without you, there would be little point to any of the Society’s activities.

Ray gives special thanks to Michael Burleigh, the Society’s Assistant Music Director and Accompanist. For the past 20 years, Michael has given Ray immeasurable support through his accomplished musicianship, being not only an excellent accompanist but also a very welcome second pair of ears for Ray in rehearsals, something that has become of increasing value in recent years. Ray feels that Michael’s worth to the Society and his help to him personally cannot be overstated.

The final words of thanks and recognition from Ray go to June, his ever supportive wife. Not only has she sung in the choir’s alto section throughout Ray’s conductorship, but has also been a valued Committee member, particularly effective in initiating some successful and continuing fund raising activities. June has always made sure that Ray has been able to concentrate on the job in hand in so far as the Society is concerned and her contribution to any success he may have enjoyed with the Orpheus has been invaluable.

With these thoughts and this concert Ray completes a most enjoyable, privileged and memorable phase of his life and he confidently commends to you the future of the Orpheus and its new Music Director, Michael Downes.