Raymond South

Published in Windlesora 19 (2002)

© WLHG

As Windlesora 18 was going to press we heard of the death of Raymond South who was a founder member of Windsor Local History Publications Group. Raymond’s tole in the Group was crucial, as he was the professional historian, and he had lived in Windsor since 1930. His store of knowledge about the town and the sources of information was enormous. His quiet manner as he encouraged efficient research methods and interpretation of information set us on the path to a quarter of a century of publications.

His daughter Margaret Whitelaw writes:

Ray South was born in Wadhurst, Sussex in 1907, the only son of Sydney and Louise South. The family moved a few times, eventually to Maidstone, where he attended Maidstone Grammar School. It was from here that he got a scholarship to University College, Oxford in 1926, where he obtained a degree in History and diploma in Education. He continued his attendance at the Methodist church while in Oxford, becoming a local preacher and also a Christian Socialist.

Ray became history master at Windsor Boys’ Grammar School in 1930, where he stayed for the rest of his working life, leaving in 1968 following two years as Deputy Headmaster. He had some well-known names amongst his early pupils: Charles Smith, later a Cabinet Minister, and Maurice Bond, later Clerk of Records at the House of Lords. He also started the Nature Club and was responsible for introducing many pupils to natural history, especially birds.

He married Marjorie Hirst in 1937 and they bought their house in St Andrew’s Avenue, where they were to remain for most of their lives. They had two daughters, Margaret and Ruth, in 1938 and 1942, who both later went to Windsor Girls’ School.

Ray became involved with the local Labour Party early in his time in Windsor, becoming Constituency Secretary in 1936, and he held several other offices over the years, including Chairman of the local and Constituency parties, Education Officer and Editor of Progress. He became a member of Windsor Borough Council at the end of the War, and served as both Councillor and Alderman from 1945 to 1974. In 1986, he was awarded a Merit Award for ‘Outstanding Voluntary Service to the Labour Party’, presented to him by Eric Heffer.

Ray played a full part in the cultural life of Windsor. He was a founder member and Chairman of the Windsor and Eton Society and later became an Honorary Life Member. He was a Trustee of the Royal Albert Institute and a governor of several local schools. He served a period as Chairman of the Windsor and Eton Historical Association and was also a member of the National Council.

In the years following his retirement, both from teaching in 1968 and from the Council in 1974, Ray turned to writing books which reflected his interest in both history and natural history. These were: The Book of Windsor (1977), Crown, College and Railways (1978), Royal Castle, Rebel Town (1981), Royal Lake (1983), Heights and Depths (1985).

Ray left the Methodist Church in the 1940s, as Marjorie also did. It was not until the 1980s that he began to attend the Quaker Meetings at Slough with her, and became a member of the Society of Friends in about 1986, and a regular member of the Slough Meeting. Friends from there kept in touch and arranged a Meeting for worship at Winton House about once a month.

In May 1995, Ray had a serious illness from which he recovered, but then had to face his wife’s deteriorating health and her move to Winton House in October 1995. He stayed on at St Andrew’s Avenue for over a year after this, sorting out his papers and books and preparing the house for sale, with the help of Ruth and Margaret, and visiting Marjorie almost every day, just around the corner. He then joined Marjorie in Winton House. His physical health became poor, but his memory and mental powers remained strong, and he enjoyed listening to talking books and music. They were together at Winton House for over four years until his death in December 1999, at the age of 92. Marjorie died shortly afterwards and they left two daughters, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.