Ray & Sylvia Hewinson

The following obituary of Ray Hewinson written by Bette Tyler was published in 'Hallmark' in 2012 :-

Ray was born in Caerlion, South Wales and attended West Monmouth Grammar School. He was a scout leader for many years, then a Lance Corporal in the army. He trained as a teacher at Chalfont St Giles. His first teaching jobs were in Slough and Suffolk.

He then went to Residential School at Horsley Green as a teacher for deprived/difficult children from the Midlands. Then he was recruited to work for a charity in Pelzallotte Children's Village.

He then to work for the Oakenden Venture, a scheme to take children directly from prisoner of war camps, whose parents had not been accepted by countries to resettle after WW2 due to ill health. Ray opened a new home in Barmouth, North Wales, taught them English and social skills to the stage where they could attend normal local school. One of the camps Ray returned to was Dachau. Many of the children were still in touch with Ray to the day he died.

It was through the caring profession that Ray met Sylvia and they married in 1973. They moved to Bucks, where Sylvia opened 'Merryfields' the first new home in Bucks for children with very special physical and mental needs and lived there for a year before moving to Naphill, then Lacey Green.

Ray was Chairman of our Twinning Association. He and Sylvia accompanied children to Hambe for school exchange visits. He was also Chairman of our Village Hall Committee for many years. Ray had Parkinson's disease for about 9 years and despite increasing difficulties throughout, never complained.

He was a dear friend to many of us and will be sorely missed by all of us who knew him.