Stan Bray, 1925 – 2022

It is our sad duty just a month after informing readers of the death of EIM’S founder Chris Deith, to bring you news of the passing of the magazine’s first editor – Stan Bray passed away peacefully at home on 18th June, aged 97.

Admittedly Stan was not the editor of this magazine for long as after overseeing just four issues in 1980 he was poached to become associate editor of Model Engineer – no surprise as his reputation as a leading model engineer was already well established.

He remained with the ME for very many years and had his own regular column, and also funded and edited sister magazine Model Engineer’s Workshop – reputedly he believed it would only last “for a few specials” when launched in 1990 but the magazine is still going strong today. He also contributed regularly to Model Boats magazine.

Stan made the most of his career which started as a machinist being paid the princely sum of 14 shillings a week. He wrote a number of books on model engineering subjects, covering areas ranging from clockmaking to making simple model steam engines, marine steam to machine shop techniques particularly lathe and milling work.

Outside of model engineering Stan was also an enthusiastic cricket player and supporter of the game. At his funeral, which was held on 12th July at the Peterborough Crematorium, donations in Stan’s memory were made to The Primary Club, a cricketers’ charity that raises money to provide sports and recreational facilities for the visually impaired.

■ EIM is grateful to Howard Lewis of the Peterborough SME for his assistance with this tribute and the provision of photos taken by himself and other members of Stan and some of his many models. Stan was an honorary vice president and enthusiastic supporter of the Peterborough club, and is seen below discussing matters model engineering with Howard at an exhibition.