Ray, of Winterley, passed away peacefully at the Westbourne Care Home, Holmes Chapel on 8th December 2024 aged 78 years. He was the loving Husband of Yvonne and caring Dad to Edwina and Aidan. A service of thanksgiving will take place at Christ Church, Wheelock on Friday 3rd January 2025 at 12 noon, following a private family committal. Donations, if desired, to Christ Church, Wheelock and Dementia Friendly Sandbach. Bright colours are welcome.
A homage by a lifelong friend, Malcolm A. Palin to the memory of
Raymond Thorley who sadly passed away on December 8th. 2024.
Our two families have been linked through the friendship of our two mothers, who both worked in a shirt making factory in Crewe before the second world war. When they married both our families lived in Haslington, my family in Henry Street and Ray’s at the top of Waterloo Road. After Raymond was born in 1946, I have memories of my mum pushing a pram with my then baby sister Carol on board and myself walking alongside to Raymond’s home on regular visits. When we first married both my wife Sheila & I decided that Winterley offered a perfect place to settle down, not realising then that this would bring Ray and myself back to living in the same village once more.
Moving forward to the more recent times, those of us who enjoyed a regular Friday evening in the local hostelries joined forces in 2003 to save the Hollybush Inn from a planned demolition by St. Modwen a major housing developer. This spawned the Save the Hollybush campaign and the formation of the groups’ name of “The Famous Five”, namely Raymond, John Hammond, Mike Leydon, Steve Butterworth and my good self. Our joint hard work of meeting directly with the local Planning Authority coupled with our campaign leaflet successfully circulated in Oakhanger, Winterley & Haslington villages heralded the reopening of the Hollybush Inn. The refurbishment and extensions to the buildings provided a new modern kitchen and separate restaurant, whilst retaining the original local bar/taproom area & the addition of a separate large carpark.
On Friday 12th. December 2003 at 12.00 noon the grand reopening took place after which the “Bush” once again prospered for quite a long time. In the more recent past sadly the “Bush” closed permanently and the land area was sold off to a developer and now contains a small estate of houses.
Sadly in 2018 John Hammond passed away and now unfortunately Raymond is no longer with us, may he forever rest in peace.
January 22nd. 2025
A homage by a lifelong friend, Malcolm A. Palin to the memory of
Raymond Thorley who sadly passed away on December 8th. 2024.
Our two families have been linked through the friendship of our two mothers, who both worked in a shirt making factory in Crewe before the second world war. When they married both our families lived in Haslington, my family in Henry Street and Ray’s at the top of Waterloo Road. After Raymond was born in 1946, I have memories of my mum pushing a pram with my then baby sister Carol on board and myself walking alongside to Raymond’s home on regular visits. When we first married both my wife Sheila & I decided that Winterley offered a perfect place to settle down, not realising then that this would bring Ray and myself back to living in the same village once more.
During 2003 those of us who enjoyed a regular Friday evening in the local hostelries joined forces to save the Hollybush Inn from a planned demolition. This spawned the successful Save the Hollybush campaign and the formation of the groups’ name of “The Famous Five” namely Raymond, John Hammond, Mike Leydon, Steve Butterworth and my good self. Our joint hard work throughout the local areas heralded the grand reopening of the Hollybush Inn “The Bush” on Friday 12th. December 2003, which once again prospered for quite a long time.
Sadly in 2018 John Hammond passed away and now unfortunately Raymond is no longer with us, may he forever rest in peace.
January 22nd. 2025