Haxey man’s hundredth celebration

A fire crew turned out to join in the hundredth birthday celebrations of former Haxey man Ralph Emery.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Nov 2014, 12:07 BST
Ralph Emery, celebrates his 100th birthday with family and friends. Picture: Marie Caley NEPB Emery 29-10-14 Emery MC 1Ralph Emery, celebrates his 100th birthday with family and friends. Picture: Marie Caley NEPB Emery 29-10-14 Emery MC 1
Ralph Emery, celebrates his 100th birthday with family and friends. Picture: Marie Caley NEPB Emery 29-10-14 Emery MC 1

Former village joiner and undertaker Ralph was surprised to be presented with a shield in recognition of his auxiliary service as a reserve firefighter in the Second World War.

But his only call-outs, his son Colin recalled, were extinguishing a settee fire with a bucket of water, and saving a burning potato pie!

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Ralph was also known as Haxey Methodist Church Sunday School Superintendent for many years. From 1934 he was a lay preacher and would visit outlying Isle villages on his pushbike.

Born in a cottage next to the Haxey Hood field, Ralph was apprenticed to undertaker H E Harris then later took over the business. He married Grace Pantry in 1943 and cycled to their new home in East Lound after their wedding. The couple had two children, six grandchildren (one deceased) and three great-grandchildren.

At a party for his October 29 birthday, family and friends joined Ralph and Pam Layton, Shirley Hinchliffe and Tanya Woodliffe sang for him. Rita Brumby and his daughter Ruth Jacklin gave tributes in verse.