Ray Jeffs, the well-known horticulturist, passed away at the Queenscourt Hospice - a centre that he had energetically supported from its inception - in his home town of Southport.
Ray, who was born on 10 March 1925 and would have been 87 this year, had an interesting career but is probably best known for the development of L O Jeffs, a salad and vegetable production unit at Haskayne on the Lancashire plain.
After a traditional primary and secondary education he entered Liverpool University to read medicine, a programme that was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II. He volunteered for the RN and after a year in minesweepers received his commission and served on the Russian Convoys. Following VE day he changed direction and studied to become a meteorological officer and became a fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society.
He married his first wife Joan in January 1957 and they had two daughters, Pamela and Sheila. Joan passed away and eventually Ray remarried. He and his second wife Betty lived together in Southport until Ray’s recent demise.
Ray was well known throughout his life for mentoring and supporting local ventures for which he was awarded the MBE in the Millennium honours list. A luminary in the masonic movement, he rose to prominence in the brotherhood.
Ray entered L O Jeffs, a company started by his father, which he oversaw and managed, taking it to greater commercial success. Haskayne became a centre for horticultural excellence and the team was renowned for developing exciting new products. Ray was the first to film-wrap iceberg lettuce in the UK.
The customer base included some household names such as Marks & Spencer, for whom the tomato Melrow was exclusively developed.
The success of the company did not go unnoticed and Ray decided to sell L O Jeffs to Northern Foods. In his retirement he invested in a number of local businesses.
Ray leaves a wife, daughter and two grandchildren, and will be sadly missed by all who had the good fortune to have known him.
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