Ray Booth Service 6th April 2016

On entrance

Music by Ben E King – Standby Me chosen by Christina and Sarah

Purpose and Attendees
We’re here to celebrate the life of Ray Booth.
Present will be
His wife Diane
Children - Christina, Sarah, Shaolan and Li
Sister Annette
Nieces Jessica and Abigail
His in-laws - Jean, Adrian, Julie, Mailin and Charlie
Expected to be in-laws Stephen and Stevie.
Friends – Roy and Margaret, Sam and Lee, Tracy, Geoff, Nick, Wendy, Jacky and Jonathan, Jud and Dil, Denise and Chloe, and Kim, Gary, Jessica and Emily

Ray the man
Family was everything to Ray. He had four other loves in his life –
-Music - Elvis, The Haughton Weavers and any nutty song from the 80’s,
-Manchester United
-Star Trek
-Jags.
But he didn’t always have a jag – he once had a bright orange mini that had the bonnet secured with a deck chair spring and he was also known as Lada Man as he had a cream Lada samara! But for the last few years he has been known as two jags – his baby was an XJS and his runaround, an XJ8 with his private registration start trek plate.

He was simple man – as long as he was with his family/friends, had music he could sing to, football or Star Trek to watch he was content.

Music was important to Ray – The song Standby Me played when we entered the chapel was a song he sang with his daughter Christina when she was an infant - she did the backing sounds whilst he sang the vocals! His daughter Sarah got the rough end of the stick though by having Star trekking sang to her to annoy her! Don’t worry we’re not playing that one.

Sadly Ray’s marriage to Sarah and Christina’s mother, Maria, dissolved when the girl’s were young. He threw himself into work and realized he was good at sales. And he was right because he met Diane when she went into Phones4U in Birmingham to buy a mobile phone from him in 1998 and she walked out with a husband!
They went on to marry in 2000 on Armistice Day – a day filled with meaning for both of them. Margaret Seaton read a poem on that day which Ray loved and has kindly offered to read it today

Poem recital by Margaret Seaton – The Life that I Have by Leo Marks

The life that I have
Is all that I have
And the life that I have
Is yours.
The love that I have
Of the life that I have
Is yours and yours and yours.
A sleep I shall have
A rest I shall have
Yet death will be but a pause.
For the peace of my years
In the long green grass
Will be yours and yours and yours.

Rays legacy
Ray and Diane went on to have two children, Shaolan and Li named by Ray in line with their Chinese heritage. Ray couldn’t be there for Christina or Sarah’s births due to complications – so he was determined not to miss these births. He cut his children’s umbilical cords, stealing the babies from the midwifes the first second he could and only handing them over when he absolutely had to. He celebrated both births with a sirloin steak – even eating the one after Shaolan’s birth at about 8am!

He has left a fantastic legacy in his children and grandchild – all are super bright, thoughtful and kind and will contribute to our society for many, many years.

Li found a song that he wanted his dad to hear so that he knew what a great dad he was, how he really understood Li – much more than other people did and do.

MUSIC - Jon Barker - Thank You For Being My Dad

Ray Loved holidays
Ray was also big on holidays – he, Diane, Shaolan and Li took about 6 weeks holiday every year for many years and became good friends of employees on resorts they frequently visited. It was during those holidays that music acts and one particular song became a family favourite because it depicted Ray – he had steely determination and was a rock, from sorting out issues to creating a new business with Diane, making sure it was liquid by chasing invoice payments and having those difficult conversations most people shy away from.

MUSIC - You Raise Me Up – Josh Groban chosen by Shaolan

Ray’s Dream
Throughout his life Ray always wanted to run his own bar in Spain. In 2015 he did just that, he was so happy, but there is always a yin with a yang and his was being away from his family for almost a year.

It was hard for everyone, but especially Ray who made a some good friends but missed his family dearly.

The next song is to tell him how much he was with us throughout that time and will be forever

MUSIC - Elivs – Always on My Mind chosen by Diane

Ray’s illness
Ray's illness was so swift, sadly not everyone could say goodbye - Annette and Charlie have asked for this poem to be read for them

Gone yet not forgotten
Although we are apart
Your spirit lies within me,
Forever in my heart
No farewell words were spoken
No time to say goodbye
You were gone before we knew it
And only God knows why

IF LOVE COULD HAVE SAVED YOU, YOU WOULD HAVE LIVED FOREVER

Goodbye Ray
And so Ray has taken the next step of his journey of life, missed by family and friends but remembered for his strength and honesty and want for a better world for all.

Goodbye Ray until we see you again

MUSIC - Charlie Pugh – See You Again (No rap)