TRIBUTES have been paid to Kilve Court's Raymond John Hancock MBE, who "had a direct impact on many thousands and thousands of people, young and old".

Raymond, known as Ray, passed away on July 12, aged 84, at Beauchamp House in Taunton. He is survived by his wife Judy, children Nick and Sarah, five grandsons, and one great-grandaughter.

Ray, born on February 8, 1940 in Weston-super-Mare, was a "brilliant father" and served as a "very successful" director of Kilve Court residential centre in Bridgwater, amongst other things.

He met Wendy Arch in Weston and they "soon became an item", marrying in 1963, aged 23 and 19 respectively. They had their son Nick in 1966, and Sarah in 1968.

In the summer of 1965, Ray became a football coach on a course held at Kilve Court. After hearing about another job opportunity at the site, Ray took on the role of deputy director which "shaped his and his family's life" over the next 36 years. He and his wife Wendy both worked and lived at Kilve Court.

The children grew up living at Kilve Court and said "it was a brilliant place to grow up with many opportunities" given to them. Nick added: "He was a brilliant father, the best role model, and always calm and unflustered."

When Kilve Court's lead director Leslie Hoose retired, Ray took over as director and "grew Kilve Court even further" — eventually being awarded an MBE in 2000 for his initiative that saved Kilve Court from bankruptcy.

In the 1980s, Kilve Court faced severe budget cuts within Somerset County Council and Ray was tasked with making Kilve Court profitable, with only 12 months to achieve this before the loss-making entity would have been closed.

Ray took over Kilve Court and "moulded it into the high class, renowned education and activity centre it has become now", his son Nick Hancock said in a tribute.

His family added that Ray's "boundless enthusiasm, vision, hard work, and ability to energise a team, ensured he succeeded". In the years since, many thousands of youngsters will have been through Kilve, "made possible due to Ray’s dedication".

Born in Weston-super-Mare, Ray grew up on Hill Road in Worle with his sister Joan, who was four years younger than him. He attended St Martins Primary, then the Weston Grammar School, where his academic abilities in mathematics flourished.

As a "talented young sportsman" Ray represented his school's teams in all sports, notably football, rugby, and cricket. In his teens, he joined Ashcombe Rangers Football Club and Uphill Castle Cricket Club and soon became a fixture in their first teams.

He was "a quiet man off the field" but had a "few notable fiery exchanges with opposing teams" on the pitch as "he didn’t like to lose", his family said.

Ray went on to study mathematics in higher education before studying at the teacher training college in Exeter and later becoming a maths and woodwork teacher at The King Alfred School in Burnham on Sea. That was his only teaching role as he began his career at Kilve Court after this.

Ray's sister-in-law from his first marriage, Hazel Hobden, said he was an "amazing man" actively involved in the Somerset Cricket League as League secretary for 25 years. He also became chairman of the Kilve Cricket Club, a role he held for 30 years.

He was also "very involved" as the county’s representative of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and helping with The Prince's Trust, which meant he met the Duke of Edinburgh and then-Prince Charles on "several occasions". 

Away from work, Ray had a "desire to do more in the local community" and joined Minehead Round Table, later becoming chairman and subsequently opening a brand new Round Table called West Quantoxhead at the Hood Arms in Kilve. He later became the Area Chairman of Round Table. On top of that Ray was Kilve Parish Council chairman for 30 years.

Ray also joined a team to support Henry Cooper as he swam the English channel. He did "a couple of long legs" with Henry, without a wetsuit.

In 1999 aged 55 Ray's wife Wendy died "completely unexpectedly" after 36 years of marriage, with Ray "pulling the family together over time as they came to terms with this tragedy".

Ray remarried in 2001 after a "romance blossomed" between him and Judy Payn, another Kilve Court colleague. The pair enjoyed "many rounds of golf, and many golfing holidays" with Judy often getting the most wins.

Ray was awarded an MBE for "services to the community, especially Kilve Court residential and outdoor education centre" in 2000, which was "one of the proudest moments of his life" his family said.

As the Queen pinned his medal to him at Buckingham Palace, she reportedly said: "My word you have been busy Ray, that’s a long list of achievements helping those many young people."

Following retirement from Kilve Court after 36 years of service, Ray and Judy set up home in Ruishton, where Ray "threw himself into the local community" by joining their parish council and becoming treasurer of the Flower Show committee.

Ray's eulogy reads: "Ray led an incredibly full life. He was always giving to others, and had a direct impact on many thousands and thousands of people, young and old.

"He will be missed by many, particularly his loving family, but they can look back with a smile on their face, from the many memories he created."

Ray's funeral will be held on Monday, August 5, at 10.40 am at Taunton Crematorium.