Ray Mitchell.

[firedrake1942]

A rather sad post.
I have just received the message below from Ray Mitchell’s daughter.
'Dear Jonathan
I am sorry to send you bad news but my Dad died yesterday at Addenbrookes.
I would be very grateful if you could let the relevant members of your group know please.
Thank you.
Kindest regards
Hilary.’
Ray was our friend as well as a fine engineer with a great knowledge of the Minor having re-built Gulliver, his cherished 1968 Almond Green Traveller from the ground up. Those of you who have seen the photos of the piles of rust he collected when he first got him will treasure the memory and the difference, before and after. His ‘Man-cave’ was a place of pilgrimage.
I have put up a picture of his table decoration for the last Christmas meal. https://www.facebook.com/uttlesfordmorr ... 0168980059
I can recall the disbelief in Tony Walker’s voice when earlier this year, Ray offered to crawl under his car and weld new chassis legs on, AT 93 years of age!!! Until very recently despite his aches and pains he was still driving and tinkering with Gulliver and seemed indefatigable and almost immortal. Many will remember his tales of his call-up in 1945 and his knowledge of the Merlin engine. He made what is, to most of us, history, come alive.
He gave more to the Minor community than anyone I know, with his remanufactured plates, tools and early windscreen clips having now been sent round the world to most of the countries where the Minor ended up.
I have asked the family for funeral details and whether they would like us to attend. I would certainly like to be there to send him on his way with or without Minors.
I will do a bit for Minor Matters as he was quite well known beyond Uttlesford and post on our site and elsewhere. There’ll be a rather large hole in out local UMMO group, which is going to take quite some filling. I will greatly miss my friend.

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

Thank you for posting this eulogy. My condolences.

[irmscher]

Very sad