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Ray and Shirley Cliffe
Shirley Cliffe and her husband Ray served the town for almost forty years, also achieving a remarkable double because each became mayor several times. They were among the best known of our town councillors and although Ray died in March 2006, Shirley continued to serve as a town councillor and maintained a healthy interest in Bourne's day to day affairs until she too died in 2016. 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 on 11th March 1925 and lived in the town all his life, attending the Abbey Primary, Bourne Grammar School and Lincoln Technical College before being called up for army service during the Second World War of 1939-45, serving for three years, including postings to Palestine and Cyprus. 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. Ray's long record of public service began in 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. He was elected mayor twice, from 1975-76 and 1991-92, while Shirley was elected three times, from 1979-80, 1997-98 and 2008-09, thus setting a record for the town council. "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." 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. Another son, Anthony, lived and worked 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 REVISED APRIL 2016
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