Roy Rae

Robert Roy Rae, who passed away on 3 October 2015, was born on 6 August 1939 in Bangor, his family having moved from Scotland to live at 8 Parkmount in the town. He entered Bangor Grammar School in 1951 from Bangor Central PE School to become one of the Class of 51, quickly forming friendships with the other members of that class.

Roy became a boy chorister at St Comgall’s under Dr Emery. Unfortunately the friendships with Roy were broken in 1953 when the family moved back to Scotland, where he completed his education at Greenock Academy.

He went on to graduate in Metallurgy at Glasgow University and worked in the steel industry, first at Swinden Laboratories in Rotherham and then at Appleby-Frodingham, British Steel, in Scunthorpe. He married Pauline in 1970 and they had two daughters, Elizabeth and Anne.

Retiring in 1999, Roy had more time to spend on his passion for rambling and hill walking and was free to work for the Ramblers Association all year round, instead of a fortnight snatched between work and a family holiday. He led tours in Nepal, New Zealand, Vietnam, countless times in the Austrian Alps and also lately in Scotland and the Lake District, where sadly he died on 3 October 2015.

His other interests and activities included DIY, like changing a car engine, climbing on the roof to remove an elderflower shrub from the chimney, working backstage in operatic and dramatic productions, wardening for the YHA in Derbyshire, cycling, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, and not least Scottish Country Dancing.

Meanwhile, he managed to spend time with Pauline and Beth and son-in-law Nolan and his two grandsons, Max (8) and Louis (5), and with Anne and son-in-law Tim.

He considered himself a staunch Scotsman and was not happy having to admit he was born in Ireland, saying he was “born on an island off the west coast of Scotland.” Roy, however, did return to Bangor several times to attend Class of 51 reunions at the Bangor Dinner, where he renewed old friendships.

Jim Claney