I first met Ray over 20 years ago when, having been made redundant by GEC, he instructed me to form his first company Phoenix VLSI. I continued to act for him as his love of the entrepreneurial world grew and he became a successful businessman, and I would like to think that over that period he became more than a client. Not many clients get nicknames, or get to find out what they are, and the fact that he used to answer to “The Speedwagon” (obviously based on his initials) suggests that he would agree.
Ray had one of the sharpest and most enquiring minds I have encountered, and conversations with him were always a joy, a challenge and bit of a magical mystery tour. Particularly when they began, as they so often did, with the words “I’ve been thinking”. And if he had been thinking of tax, and how to reduce or defer the payment thereof, well write off the next hour! He undoubtedly had the best layman’s knowledge of the British tax system, and frequently came up with workable schemes which the tax professionals hadn’t seen the possibility of.
The thing I liked most about Ray was his eccentricity which covered his hair style, his paper filing system (Rob and Rachael good luck with sorting that out!), his approach to gardening and, above all, his love of rock music and air guitar!
I will miss you Ray
I first met Ray over 20 years ago when, having been made redundant by GEC, he instructed me to form his first company Phoenix VLSI. I continued to act for him as his love of the entrepreneurial world grew and he became a successful businessman, and I would like to think that over that period he became more than a client. Not many clients get nicknames, or get to find out what they are, and the fact that he used to answer to “The Speedwagon” (obviously based on his initials) suggests that he would agree.
Ray had one of the sharpest and most enquiring minds I have encountered, and conversations with him were always a joy, a challenge and bit of a magical mystery tour. Particularly when they began, as they so often did, with the words “I’ve been thinking”. And if he had been thinking of tax, and how to reduce or defer the payment thereof, well write off the next hour! He undoubtedly had the best layman’s knowledge of the British tax system, and frequently came up with workable schemes which the tax professionals hadn’t seen the possibility of.
The thing I liked most about Ray was his eccentricity which covered his hair style, his paper filing system (Rob and Rachael good luck with sorting that out!), his approach to gardening and, above all, his love of rock music and air guitar!
I will miss you Ray
