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IN MEMORIAM
Hilary ‘Ray’ STARBUCK 28th March 1936 - 11th January 2014 Army
Apprentices School, Arborfield.
Intake 52A
Mr Ray Starbuck : Obituary Published in the ChesterfieldToday newspaper on 16th January 2014 (Distributed
in Chesterfield) Mr Ray Hilary Starbuck, of Hasland, has died at
home, aged 77. Born at Brimington and
a resident of the area for 37 years, he left school at 14 and joined the boys
service section of the Army for two years. He joined the full Army and served
24 years until 1976. He then was a
service reception engineer at Kennings and latterly worked as a postman until
his retirement in 1994. Mr Starbuck
enjoyed shooting, walking, caravanning, gardening and spending time with his
family and his dog. He leaves widow
Marie, daughters Lynn and Tracey, son David, grandchildren Niall, Sarah,
Lauren, Stephen, James and Rachel. The
service is due to take place at Chesterfield crematorium, on Friday, January
17 at 3.50pm. Funeral directors: Harold Lilleker & Sons Ltd,
369 Hasland Road, Hasland, Chesterfield.
Notifications from the
A.O.B.A. web site Forum. Ray
Starbuck 52A RIP by
Trevor 52A » Tue Jan 14, 2014 8:03 pm Sadly
I have received news of the recall to HQ of Ray Starbuck 52A. After an
extended stay in hospital, Ray returned home to spend his last few hours
surrounded by the love and care of his family. He passed away at 06.00hrs the
next morning, 11th January 2014. The
service for Ray will be at 15.50hrs, Friday 17th January, at Chesterfield
Crematorium, Brimington Road, and then at The Devonshire Arms in Hasland. Trevor
52A. (Trevor Stubberfield 52A) ________________________________________ by GregPeck53b » Tue Jan 14, 2014 8:55 pm Very sorry to hear of yet another loss from our
ranks Trevor. Condolences and sympathy to the family and close friends that
Ray leaves behind. RIP Ray Starbuck Greg. (Greg Peck 53B) ________________________________________ by Derek Driver » Wed Jan 15, 2014 12:13 pm May I also offer my condolences to Ray's family. RIP Derek (Derek Driver 57A) ________________________________________ by
TeeCee55A » Wed Jan 15, 2014 12:32 pm Too
many, too soon. Yet
another of our dwindling brethren called to HQ. Rest
in Peace, Ray. Sincere condolences to all of the family. TeeCee
(Tony Church 55A) __________________________________________ by
Thommo » Thu Jan 16, 2014 12:40 am This
is not the way I want 2014 to start Rest in Peace Ray I recall your name at
Arborfield but as with age faces become a blur . Thommo
53B (JohnThomson 53B) ________________________________________ by
Herbie66b » Fri Jan 17, 2014 2:15 pm Rest
in peace, Ray, our sincere condolences to Ray's family and friends. Herbie
66B (John Coles 66B)
Family Tribute. We
are here today to pay our last respects to a unique person it was your
privilege to know. Three overriding
themes came across to me as I spoke with his family. Army
man. Gentle man. And above all else;
family man. Ray
Starbuck was the only son of four children, born to parents George and
Lily. Only Betty survives. His sisters Jean and Eileen predecease him. Ray
was born in Brimington on the 28th March 1936. His early years were shaped by World War
Two with its rations, blackouts and air-raids. With his father in the Army this would no
doubt be a worrying time for this small boy left with a family of women. Ray
attended Brimington Boys School and from here he went to Tapton House Grammar
School until he left at the age of thirteen.
With The War over and peace time resumed; Ray and his family went to
Egypt where his father was posted and he attended The Moascar School, for
forces children. A very competent
swimmer I was shown Ray’s certificates he received at First and Second Class
levels. He also saved a man from drowning as a boy and swam across the Suez
Canal. As
soon as he was old enough, Ray returned to Britain from Egypt and along with
his mates he signed up to join the Army.
He attended the Army Apprenticeship School at Arborfield. Here he trained be a Vehicle Mechanic and
completed his Engineering Apprenticeship.
His certificate told me that Ray’s conduct was recorded as exemplary. Ray
served with The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers for a total of
twenty four years. He reached the rank
of sergeant and was attached to various units over the years; mainly working
on his own as part of the Inspectorate Team for BFPO. Ray had been awarded a number of medals
including his Long Service and Good Conduct medal. He had served in Malaysia, Hong Kong and
Canada in addition to many other countries.
When he struggled to sleep in hospital he would follow Marie’s advice
to try to remember all the countries he had visited. Ray had also been part
of the United Nations Team and had been a member of The Army’s shooting team. Romance
came into Ray’s life when he was stationed in York. He and a mate had dates with two young
ladies in the Royal Observer Corps and in 1955 they started going out
together (Ray had no choice but to turn up at the church as with Marie’s 5
brothers to answer to); Ray was separated from his Yorkshire Lass for three
years while undertaking a tour of duty in Malaya but kept in touch with
letters written every day. When he
returned in 1959 he had saved quite a bit of money so he considered what to
spend it on. Two choices, a car or a
wedding? Sense prevailed and he and
Marie married in 1959 in York with only three weeks planning. They
moved to Antwerp, Belgium in the August of 59 where they spent 5 years. From there they moved to Tripoli;
Colchester; Tidworth; Warminster; and Dusseldorf. Their marriage was blessed with their three
children; Lynn, Tracey and Dave. His children
recalled walking at the weekend with their parents, long family walks which
usually concluded near a pub. Holidays
were very much water based and Ray taught all his children to swim. At
the end of his army career, it was decided to settle down in Chesterfield
close to his extended family. Ray’s
first job in Civvie Street was as a Service Reception Engineer for Kennings.
He then went on to become a postman, a job which he loved. Returning to his Derbyshire roots they
moved to Inkersall before buying a house at New Whittington then their
bungalow at Hasland. Further
blessings in their life came with the arrival of their grandchildren. Ray and Marie have six grandchildren in
total; Niall, Sarah, Lauren, Stephen, James and Rachel. Ray found great pleasure in spending time
with his grandchildren
and among many things, teaching them to dive.
For twelve years or more, holidays in France were enjoyed with Lynn
and/or Tracey, and their families. Lynn also remembers their time in Egypt
when her and her dad spent 5 hours snorkelling in the Red Sea without
returning to the shore. Ray was also a member of the Caravan Club and many
enjoyable breaks were taken at Clumber Park, with Marie and the dog or dogs
and with Dave and his family. Holidays
a plenty were enjoyed and Marie told me they went on eight last year. In 2009 to celebrate their golden wedding
they had enjoyed a cruise and stay in the Dominican Republic with Tracey and
her family. Here Ray had enjoyed
snorkelling and lapping up the sunshine.
He was very proud of his tan which had been built up throughout his
life. There was a bit of competition between him and his sister Jean. Seeing
who could get the brownest, fastest, using oil and vinegar. Ray
was very much a gentleman. He was a
social drinker who enjoyed a drink, including ”bonding sessions” with his
son. Lynn recalls their times in France when many tipples were enjoyed around
the tents and caravans. Drunkenly chasing Maybugs round with a fly swat at
Olonne Sur Mer provided many hilarious memories. Rum and coke had been his
tipple but more latterly it had been a glass of wine or port with a piece of
Blue Stilton. A
saver rather than a spender, Ray was frugal and enjoyed bargain hunting at
the car boot sales. Hobbies had
included shooting in his younger days; tinkering and making things in his
garage; caravanning, walking with their dogs; as well as swimming and
holidays as was mentioned earlier. He
loved to go on the water slides and there was always a competition to see who
could go the fastest. Ray would be
going so fast he would be curling round the sides of the flume. He enjoyed a good film and loved reading
too. He read many different types of
books and enjoyed spy, intrigue and army type novels. Above all else, this gentle gentleman will
be remembered as a man who was at the heart of his family. While ever you keep his memory alive there
he will remain. Death
leaves a heart ache no one can heal.
Love leaves memories no one can steal.
Ray contributed photos to the ‘Arborfield & The
September 49ers’ web site. They can be seen by Clicking in the Wreath
below.
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