C.R.Foot 1925-2012
It is with regret that I have to inform you that Ray died on Friday 25th May after a 2 year battle following a major stroke. His modelling career began in his teens with free flight and continued with radio right until his final stroke. Following a couple of strokes in 2000 and 2001 he could no longer fly unaided but did very well using a buddy-box. While working at de Haviland, Christchurch, he was a club mate of the great pre-war designer C.A.Rippon of ‘Air Cadet’ and ‘Ripmax’ fame. Ray was a great committee man and until recently attended many local and national S.M.A.E (BMFA) meetings. As Ray’s career moved him around the country he managed to start an aeromodelling club wherever one was needed and in the Western area following his move to Bristol Aircraft in 1956 he quickly was the driving force behind forming the company aeromodelling club the ‘Bulldogs’. He was also an early member of the ‘Woodspring Wings’ club and for many years a very active force at the annual show where he organised the traders with great care and tact. I recall a hilarious incident at one of the early shows where Ray was asked to mow the take off strip which was said to be below standard, he pushed the mower onto the runway but tripped over his feet, let go and the mower proceeded to take off! He was elected a life member of both the Woodspring and Bulldog clubs of which he was very proud. Most of his recent flying was with the Beaufort Club which is much closer to him than Woodspring and unlike Filton is available during the week. Although paralysed on one side and finding it difficult to speak, Ray remained remarkably cheerful and was still talking modelling right up to the end. He will be much missed by friends and family. His ashes are to be sprinkled at the Woodspring site.