Ray and Shirley Cliffe

Shirley and Ray Cliffe pictured at their golden wedding celebrations in April 2005
PHOTO: Courtesy The Local newspaper, Bourne

A husband and wife team who have served the town for almost forty years have also achieved a remarkable double because each has been mayor on two occasions. They are among the best known of our town councillors and although less active than they were, still maintain a healthy interest in Bourne's day to day affairs.

Ray Cliffe was the fourth son of Edward and Ruth Cliffe who ran a shop in West Street selling furniture and antiques, a business that was established there in 1876. He was born in the flat above the shop and has lived in the town all his life, attending the Abbey Primary and then Bourne Grammar School before being called up for army service during the Second World War of 1939-45.

Shirley moved to Bourne in 1943 when her father, Inspector Harold Withers, was transferred to take charge of the town's police station. She trained as a children's nurse but met Ray at a Saturday night dance while at home convalescing from an illness and after a two-year engagement they married on 11th April 1955, holding their wedding reception in the place where they first met, the Corn Exchange.

Both have a long record of public service, Ray since 1969 when he became a member of the former Bourne Urban District Council and later of South Kesteven District Council and in 1973 he was elected to Lincolnshire County Council, remaining in office for eight years. He joined Bourne Town Council when it was inaugurated in 1974 and was a member until 2003 when he was forced to retire through ill health.

Shirley has been a town councillor since 1976 and remains an active member while both have been mayor twice, Ray from 1975-76 and 1991-92 and his wife from 1979-80 and 1997-98. "I actually joined the town council without Ray knowing", she said. "He went off on a delivery and when he returned I had filled in all the required forms and handed them in to the clerk. I was very interested in local affairs for many years before that and always attended meetings, sitting in the public gallery and taking in every word that was said. In fact, it was a running joke that the press would ring me up to find out what had been said at some of the meetings."

The couple gave up the shop in West Street in 2003 when Ray, then aged 78, and Shirley, aged 71, decided to retire and sell the premises although the international removals company they helped form is now run by their youngest son David, aged 39. During their time at the shop, there were 22 burglaries and in one of them, Shirley disturbed the intruder and made chase when he ran off, pursuing him as far as Manning Road. Nevertheless, she has fond memories of those days:

This has always been a family business. There used to be so many of them until recently. Newcomers to the town were amazed that when they saw something they liked because I'd often say "Take it home and try it" but you couldn't do that today, unfortunately. There have been tremendous changes over the years. Styles are very different today and of course, so are the prices. I can remember selling a fireside chair for £3. 10s. but it would be over £100 today. There are also restrictions on what you can and cannot sell and anything made after 1988 must carry proper fire warning labels. We have many happy memories but after 48 years together running the business, we think it time to retire and have some time to ourselves.

The couple have another son, Anthony, aged 44, who lives and works in Buckinghamshire. A daughter, Julie, died in 1971 at the age of 9 after contracting meningitis. In April 2005, the couple celebrated their golden wedding with a reception for 100 family and friends, again at the Corn Exchange.

See also     The Cliffe shop fire      Harold Pointon Withers    

The Town Council

WRITTEN APRIL 2005