Ray joined the Board in April 2019 with ten years bureau experience following the merger of the Newmarket Bureau into Citizens Advice Suffolk West. He originally took on the role of Treasurer to Newmarket CAB in 2010. His subsequent roles extended to Trustee and latterly Secretary up to the merger.
Ray brings extensive financial and management experience to the Board having worked for Forest Heath District Council for 40 years, 31 of which were as Director of Finance. Alongside this he spent 17 years as a financial adviser to the public sector at a national level, including ten years as Secretary to one of the major financial societies. Following retirement he then had a ten year consultancy career in the City where his experience extended to debt management and investments in the public sector.
He has served many voluntary sector organisations throughout his career and was instrumental in setting up Newmarket in Bloom. He has participated in many sports and had a successful career as a football referee reaching the Football Combination before injury curtailed further progression.
He has an extensive garden and allotment to maintain, which helps fuel another interest, which he describes as being “a fairly useful chef.” He has played many sports and is currently endeavouring to get his golf handicap back to single figures.
He has travelled extensively in France and describes his frequent trips as “just living in a different place”. Speaking moderately good French, as he puts it, has enabled him to become involved in the local estate council and bring an English view to the proceedings!
