A FORMER pub landlord turned self-employed businessman has died, aged 67.

Ray Stockley – nicknamed George by friends – had worked tirelessly since leaving school at 16.

Born in Bournemouth, he lived in Sturminster Newton as a child and spent nine years in the Merchant Navy after leaving school.

He married Glenneth and together they had a son, Simon, and lived in Milton Keynes.

Jobs included being a double glazing representative business manager and running his own fresh fish van, which he converted from an old ambulance.

After Glenneth’s death in 1988, Ray moved back down to Dorset to be near his parents.

In 1989 he got together with Sue Lynch, who he had known for around 25 years, and they spent 23 happy years together, with Sue’s five children coming to know him as Dad.

They ran two Eldgridge Pope public houses, the Hogs Head at Westbourne and the Guildhall Tavern, in Winchester, before buying the Portman Arms in East Chinnock, Somerset, in 1990.

Sue said: “It was lovely, we both liked being in the country and we turned it right round to be very successful through sheer hard work.”

They sold up after five years to work on the relief circuit in pubs in and around London, before Ray started up a carpet cleaning business and they moved to Oakdale, in Poole.

Six years ago step-son Craig started working for R & S Services with Ray.

“Business had picked up so well that Ray needed the extra help, and their determination and hard work really paid off,” Sue, now of Northbourne, said.

“Craig was a great asset to the business and will be carrying it on in respect of Ray, which would have been his wish.”

In his little free time, Ray loved cycling, swimming, gardening and watching his grandson play football.

He also played darts at Talbot Rise and Kinson Conservative Club.

He and Sue enjoyed holidays abroad, including to Thailand, Australia and the Caribbean.

Ray was still working five or six days a week when he fell ill last September, and was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January.

He died in hospital on Friday, April 13.

Ray leaves loving partner Sue, children Simon. Andrew, Dawn, Mark, Nicky and Craig and his great-grandchildren.