Ex-city mayor dies aged 89

A former mayor of Bath has passed away peacefully after a short illness at the age of 89.

Ramon (Ray) David Cliffe, inset, died on September 17 after battling aspirational pneumonia at the Royal United Hospitals Bath.

Ray was born in Portland, Dorset, on November 22 in 1930. He moved to Bath aged 27 and worked as an engineering draughtsman.

He married Sylvia Mary Charles in 1960 and had three children, Paul, Lynda and Andrea who have provided seven grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ray and Sylvia celebrated their diamond wedding on September 3. They had a small family gathering to celebrate the 60 years of marriage.

He retired from the civil service in 1992 and became the chairman of the Council of Civil Service Union and a member of the National Executive of the Institution of Professionals, Managers and Specialists who elected him as an Honorary Member on his retirement. He received an MBE in 1992 for services to industrial relations.

He was elected to Bath City Council in 1994 and to B&NES Council the following year as the Liberal Democrat councillor for the Lambridge ward. He served on the education, policy & resources, personnel and equalities committees.

He was elected as the first chairman of B&NES Council before becoming Mayor of Bath in 1998.

Ray was also the trade union leader for the Ministry of Defence.

He was also a keen reader of and contributor to the Bath Chronicle.

Daughter Lynda, who had cared for him during lockdown, said: “We watched over him for four days until he had passed away. He was still trying to fight it and get out of bed, bless him. He had gone through a lot.

“Even in his mayoral duties, he had a quadruple heart bypass and then it went infected so fought that too. He was a very, very strong but loving character, we will miss him.”