Ray Nottage was born in London in 1941 when bombs and doodlebugs were

dropping; he was not evacuated and stayed with his family for the duration of

the war. Consequently his austere childhood has indelibly imprinted on his

psyche and even today Ray considers the biggest luxury in his life is hot water

from a bathroom tap in the morning.

Early childhood in London established in Ray the importance

of the community,  at a time when Radio

was the only form of mass entertainment it was the community that worked together

to entertain and help each other.

His involvement as a Ralph Reader Gang Show boy shaped his

personality up until his family moved to the outskirts of London and Ray commenced education at a

grammar school.

Ray went on to obtain engineering qualifications at night

school and started his working life as a trainee in an old established

precision engineering company.

From there he joined a specialist company making industrial

air movement equipment and was recruited to a sales team after gaining considerable

experience in sophisticated engineering environment.

At 27 years old Ray was managing a small sales force but

with responsibilities for sales training for a national sales team.

Headhunted some years later by GEC Ray went on to lead a

major sales force and was given special responsibilities for export.

At 38 started his own company in distribution and

manufacture of air movement equipment and also entered into the Computer

software market working for manufacturers of heating ,ventilation, refrigeration

and air handling equipment, this until retirement although Ray is still the

Chairman of the company.

At this time Ray was president of the national Fan

manufactures Association and of a Eurovent committee determining product

performance certification. He was also vice president of the Federation of

Environmental Trades association (FETA). Ray was also Chair of the local

Chamber of Commerce.

 Moved to Christchurch

in 1999 on a holiday home basis finally moving here having refurbished the

house some eight years later.

Sporting interests stem from playing soccer at a Southern

Amateur level, tennis,cricket golf and is a keen follower of rugby union .

A catholic taste in music ranging from blues to opera.

Prefers to play his guitar rather badly than to listen these days.

Now a keen fly fisherman and messes around in boats.

Ray is married to Karen and between them have three children

and two grown up grandchildren.

 As Conservative Councillor for

Purewell and Stanpit, Ray’s portfolio is’ A safe and healthy community’ and is

Chair of East Dorset Crime and Reduction Partnership.

He sees his Council work as a payback for an extremely

interesting life in the best Country and the best locality in the world.