Ray Yorke obituary 1944-2025

Ray Yorke, who has died aged 80, was a stalwart of the Liberal Democrats in Kent and a quiet yet profoundly effective contributor to public life for over five decades. Though rarely the person in the spotlight, Ray's influence was felt in every campaign, committee, and corner of the communities he served. He was the one who ensured that, behind the scenes, everything ran as it should.

To know Ray was to know a man who wore many hats – but each with purpose, each with care. Whether it was as a senior planner in local government, a committee member for the Scouts, or a campaign organiser for the Liberal Democrats, Ray was the dependable presence who could always be relied upon to do what needed to be done, without fanfare or ego.

Ray was not a doer in the showy sense – he was not the one knocking down doors or making fiery speeches on soapboxes – but he was always the organiser, the record-keeper, the planner, the person who made sure the people who did had what they needed to in order to succeed. He believed in systems, structure, and the quiet strength of order. In an age of performative politics, Ray’s style – modest, meticulous, and mission-driven – was both refreshing and effective.

Ray was born in 1944 in Pinner and brought up in Leyton. After grammar school he worked in a City lawyers for a few years and then got a place at the (new) University of Kent at Canterbury. He then joined KCC as a planning officer, and later moved to Gravesham Borough Council, where he rose to become Chief Planning Officer. His career saw him guide major developments and regeneration schemes across North Kent, contributing to the shape of the area while always holding fast to the public good.

Politically active from a young age, Ray was part of Jo Grimond’s “Red Guard” in the Young Liberals, and it was through politics that he met his beloved Hilary. The couple married in 1969, building a life together in Maidstone with their sons, David and Phillip, later becoming devoted grandparents. Ray's political life never dimmed. He served as a Liberal Democrat councillor, was an assiduous campaigner and canvasser, and could be found at every count, every committee meeting, every campaign HQ, often with a Focus bundle under one arm and a clipboard in the other.

He was, as many colleagues described, “rock solid” – a man whose dependability underpinned so many campaigns. One former colleague quipped that Ray had probably walked every street in Maidstone at least twice – once for canvassing, and again to deliver a leaflet. His work ethic was quietly legendary; even in retirement, he continued to consult for the Planning Inspectorate and offer advice to younger activists.

But Ray was also a man of humour and warmth. A founder member of the Kent University “League of Hirsute Gentlemen”, a fan of jazz piano, and an occasional member of the “sleepyviews” – a nickname for particularly soporific candidate interviews – Ray's dry wit and twinkling eye often belied his serious exterior.

He was faithful – to his friends, his family, his values, and his community. In a political world too often characterised by transience and flash, Ray Yorke was the steady presence who ensured the wheels kept turning. A true liberal in every sense, his legacy lives not in speeches remembered or headlines grabbed, but in systems improved, leaflets delivered, teams strengthened, and friendships forged.

He leaves behind his wife Hilary, sons David and Phillip, grandchildren Nicky, Ollie and Phoebe, and countless friends, colleagues, and fellow campaigners who will miss his wisdom, his steadiness, and his ceaseless quiet commitment to the common good.

Ray Yorke: planner, organiser, liberal, and gentleman. A life well lived, in service of others.