Hartlepool taxi boss Ray will be given a send-off to remember

A fleet of cabs are due to follow the funeral cortege from Ray’s home at Hartfields to All Saints’ Church on Wednesday.

The hearse will also go past the offices of Streamline Taxis, the firm that Ray started more than 40 years ago, in Tower Street on the way to the church.

The service will take place at 2pm and Ray’s wife Julie said it will be a celebration of his life with lots of funny stories sure to be told.

Julie said: “He always used to say ‘I don’t do mornings’, so it is on the afternoon.

“Everybody loved him.”

The family is asking people who attend to wear something yellow in a nod to his yellow taxis.

Town taxi driver Stephen Picton, who worked for Ray a number of times, said: “He was the kingpin of the yellow taxis.

“I think the police might have to close off the roads because there will be that many yellow taxis.

“His favourite saying was ‘it’s not worth a tab end’. He didn’t see it as a job, he saw it as a hobby.”

Ray, who previously lived at the Fens, died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday at home with Julie and daughter Lindsey after suffering ill health for some time.

Streamline grew from just one cab to 130 under Ray’s control.

He also leaves sister Linda, stepdaughter Jane, brother-in-law Tony and grandchildren Katie and Taylor-Ray.