Meet the Shedder: Ray Chase

Ray  is a true Cicestrian. He was born, in 1950, in Little London, in the centre of the City.

He attended the Lancastrian School, starting in the Infants which was, at that time, in Tower Street. He left school when he was 15 and started work at the International Stores shop in East Street. His brother worked there and, for a time, his father was a van driver. Ray had had a Saturday job there while still at school. He did an apprenticeship which included butchery and general provisions. He left when he became 18.

Ray then became a builder’s labourer, working on many of the new housing developments around Chichester in the 1960s and 70s.. He worked for local company Betteridges and, later, Frederick Hill. He completed a comprehensive postal training course and became a bricklayer as well as gaining experience in many other trades.

On retirement and not being someone who sits around, Ray was then employed by Scandia Huis, builders of prefabricated timber buildings. He worked all over the country in teams of 3 or 4 erecting houses and other buildings.

In 1976 Ray became a retained fireman and attended many incidents. One that stands out in his memory was a fire in the Woolworth’s store in Bognor on a busy August Bank Holiday. Because of his short height he got the nickname “the bungalow fireman”. At West Dean a chimney fire proved difficult because of a bend in the chimney. Nothing daunted, Ray stepped into the wide inglenook fireplace and climbed up inside the chimney. Black from head to foot, he was given a muted welcome by his wife when he arrived home.

Ray freely admits that he can’t sit still and that he rarely watches television. Thus, he has many hobbies and pastimes. He builds model aircraft from kits and also builds models using matchsticks. He does pyrography (wood burning) and embroidery. He used to be keen on athletics, running 100 metres and throwing the javelin.

Since joining the Men’s Shed, Ray has quickly become involved, deploying his considerable knowledge and experience to correct a number of deficiencies in the new sheds as built by the suppliers. Not only has he contributed much to discussions but he has also put in many hours of work, often on his knees.

Asked why he had joined Chichester Men’s Shed, Ray said that he enjoyed the company and the opportunity to help others.