UK TV'S ROBIN RAY DIES
Flingel Bunt
29 November 1998 18:21
Actor and television presenter Robin Ray died this morning after a short
illness, said family friend Sir Anthony Jay.
Mr Ray, who was 63, was the eldest son of comedian Ted Ray, died in
Brighton, where he lived with his wife, actress Susan Stranks.
The couple have a son, Rupert.Mr Ray, who trained at the Royal Academy of
Dramatic Art, made more than 1,000 radio and television programmes, but was
perhaps best known as a long-serving panellist on the BBC 2 music programme
Face the Music.
He made his London stage debut in The Changeling in 1960 before teaching
drama at the RADA.
It was also in January of the same year that he married actress and Magpie
presenter Susan Stranks.
Susan, then 21, was the daughter of Alan Stranks author of the BBC series
PC.49.
In 1966 Mr Ray left his teaching post at RADA in a public protest against
the resignation of the principal John Fernald, and re-started his
illustrious television and stage career.Face the Music proved so popular
that Mr Ray was offered his own quiz, this time on BBC1, called Music Quiz
in the early 70s. He also became the first chairman of Call My Bluff.
He was recognised as a music buff and in later years was one of the founders
of Classic FM Radio, and remained music advisor to the station until last
year.
At the age of 45 he wrote his first play Cafe Puccini which opened at
Wyndham's Theatre, London, in 1980.
His anthology on love and marriage, Time For Lovers, was released in 1975.
He also published Robin Ray's Music Quiz, Favourite Hymns and Carols, and
Words on Music.Chief executive of Classic FM Ralph Bernard paid tribute to
Mr Ray.
He said: "Robin Ray was one of the small group of people who helped launch
the concept of Classic FM.
"His early work in creating the distinctive style of Classic FM was
inspirational and we are very sorry to learn of his death."
Mr Ray was involved in a legal battle with Classic FM over the overseas
copyright of a music database he helped produce, said a
spokeswoman.Broadcaster Henry Kelly, of Classic FM, said: "I was as shocked
as everybody else to hear of his sudden and quite unexpected death.
"It is hard to think of anybody apart from the founding fathers who played
more of a part in setting up Classic FM then Ray.
"On a personal level he was a tremendous help and support to me. In the
early days his help with the pronunciations of composers was invaluable.
"As he used to say 'hang in there, you will get it right some day'.
"I shall miss him, his help and his skill."
© 1998 Press Association