Raymond Ward

born 30 June 1949 in Balerno

died 6 April 2025 in Balerno

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Appointed Honorary Member of ‘Let it Blaw‘

2018

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Vice President

1996,  1997,  1998

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Croupier

2022, 2023 2024

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Secretary

1999,  2000,  2001

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Committee Member

1990, 1991, 1992, 1995

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Croupier

2022,  2023,  2024

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Reply to the Toast  “The Lasses”  1988,  2025

Proposer of the Toast  “Chairman & Croupiers”  1989

Proposer of the Toast  “The Immortal Memory of Robert Burns”  1991,  2021

Proposer of the Toast  “Chairman, Croupiers & Artistes”  1998

Proposer of the Toast  “Let it Blaw – the Balerno Burns Club”  1999,  2017

 

Raymond Ward was born at Piano Row, Balerno, on Thursday 30th June 1949. He was the fourth of five children born to Frank Ward and his wife Betty.

He was an adventurous boy who enjoyed his time at Balerno School and was a keen boy scout.

His youth was filled with days out in the countryside, where his brother Sandy remembers him getting stung multiple times after standing on wasp’s nests. Raymond was also a good footballer who had a trial for Hearts but his football loyalty lay to the west at Ibrox.

His schooling eventually took him to Currie Secondary, where he made many friends. On leaving school, following his Dad, he got a job at Balerno Mill but also attended Napier College on Day release where he studied industrial chemistry.

His job at the mill was to test and monitor the water quality throughout the process so he would be seen walking around in his white coat doing all the testing and sampling.  throughout his shift. Raymond told how they also used to make their own alcohol in the lab under the desks; they had the equipment and know-how, so why not.

In 1971, Raymond married Christine McVean in Balerno Church and they moved into a house in Harlaw Road owned by the Mill which would become their “forever home.” Raymond truly was a Balerno man all of his days; his encyclopaedic knowledge of everything to do with the village was testament to that. Raymond and Christine soon saw their family growing with the arrivals of Christopher and Kirsty and, much later, they became grandparents to Daniel, Ryan and Zoё and Mirren. 

The papermill hit hard times causing it to close, so Raymond had to look for employment elsewhere. He found work in a new papermill that was being developed in Algeria which gave him steady employment and good money but, of course, it kept him away from his family. Algeria was an amazing experience, where he embraced local life and even became fluent in French. One plus that did come out of the papermill closing, was that Raymond and Christine were able to buy their family home from the mill’s liquidators. 

Having returned from Algeria, Raymond found work at Woodhall papermill before a complete change in career saw him becoming a ‘rep’ for a toy wholesalers based in Gorgie. It was a very different role, but one that the ever charming, and always charismatic Raymond embraced. He enjoyed his new role and loved being around at home again.

One of Raymond’s passions, was his pigeons, who he attentively fed, bred and cared for, training them up at the weekends to be formidable competitors. He had learned himself from his older brother Jim, and he was always so proud when one of his birds won a competition. His proudest moment was when one of them won the National, having raced home from France……

Raymond worked hard, moving on to be a rep and agent for various seed and pet suppliers over the years, but it was taking the step to become self employed, and later setting up his own business “Sunshine Pets,” that saw him flourish. He had a fantastic work ethic and was always great at making a deal. He branched out too, going into partnership with others, including owning a share in a car parts business and also a share in a pub.

Raymond had great drive and determination to do the best for his family and make money anyway he could. He dabbled a little in property, but it was running “Sunshine Pets” that was his greatest success; the story goes that he called it “Sunshine Pets” so he could introduce himself as “Ray of Sunshine.” when answering the phone.

His son Christopher worked alongside Raymond in the business for five years. While Raymond handled the buying and selling with his trademark wheeling and dealing, Christopher travelled across Scotland, visiting countless independent shops. He had an incredible mind for facts, figures, and especially directions—he could recall every detail about the shops they worked with, from how to get there to what the owners were like.

Raymond played an active role in local Burns Clubs which became a hugely important part of his life. He was a loyal member of the Balerno Burns Club, “Let it Blaw” for 38 years. His support for ‘Let it Blaw’ can be seen at the top of this page where his involvement in Club matters is recorded. He proposed the main Toast of the evening, the “Immortal Memory of Robert Burns,” on two occasions in 1991 and 2021 but, for many of us, the two occasions when he proposed the Toast to “Let it Blaw” in 1999 and 2017 highlighted his vast knowledge of our village gained over his lifetime.

Raymond served the Club for three years as Secretary and a further three years as our Vice President. At the ‘Let it Blaw’ suppers of 2011, 2012 aand 2013 Raymond attended in the office of President of the Marchbank Burns Club and, upholding tradition, gave Grace After Meat on each occasion. Those were days Raymond described the times as being full of laughter, lively banter, and plenty of whisky. Raymond’s daughter Kirsty remembers him borrowing her cassette recorder, so he could record his Immortal Memory to perfect the content and delivery thus ensuring proper timing.

There was also another year he engaged Christine’s help in typing his Toast to the Lassies. He always looked forward to suppers and club meetings which he took very seriously as can be seen from the photo below taken when LIB was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic and the membership joined to hold the annual supper online.

Raymond had always been interested in Astronomy so imagine his delight while serving as Club Secretary, when, pen in hand, he was able to record the dramatic events at the  Committee Meeting of Tuesday 9th January 2001 at Johnsburn House when, mid-meeting, the first total lunar eclipse of the Third Millennium caused chaos with Martin Mitchell’s catering arrangements. Raymond’s report of this rare and unusal event was:

Carl John arrived slightly late for the start of the meeting and, on entering the room, stated that there was a pink moon in the sky. He appeared sober, so chairman Alex Hood adjourned the meeting to allow everyone to go outside and witness the spectacle. On returning, the full compliment enjoyed mince pies, biscuits and coffee kindly supplied by committee member Martin Mitchell of the Johnsburn House Hotel. I would like to reiterate that everyone was sober and the moon was indeed a pinky orange colour.”

The Moon !

For the record, and for corroboration of what was a bizarre event even by ‘Let it Blaw’ standards, also present at the meeting, and all apparently sober, were John Graham Vice-President, Ken McDonald Treasurer, Jim Tait Honorary President, and committee members Jim Weatherston, Charlie Struthers and Jimmie Dunbar. A final quick note from the Club President who was chairing the meeting “As I recall the mince pies were particularly moist and tasty on that occasion!”

Raymond had a lifelong interest in sports; football as mentioned earlier, but also golf and bowls too and, in 2003, he participated in a sponsored parachute jump to raise funds for cancer related charities.

Then, last year for his 75th birthday, the family decided it was appropriate to give him a boat trip to the Bass Rock. Were they trying to get rid of you Raymond ?

Raymond was a hugely familiar face in and about Balerno. The village was in his heart and he loved everything about it. He would often be out on his walks around the local area and make little or no progress due to stopping by yet another cronie for a blether. He loved  passing the time and chatting with anyone and everyone, such was his genuine interest in how you were, or what you were up to.

 Like many who lived their whole lives in Balerno, a love of the hills and the outdoors was all-important. It was therefore very appropriate that at the end of Raymond’s funeral, a collection was taken in his memory to be donated to the Friends of the Pentlands.  

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An honest man here lies at rest,

As e’er God with His image blest;

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Raymond is the son of club member Frank Ward and brother of club member Norman Ward