THE funeral will take place in Taunton Crematorium on Monday (August 5) of former Kilve Parish Council chairman Ray Hancock, the man credited with saving Kilve Court residential centre from bankruptcy.

Mr Hancock died in Taunton on July 12, aged 84.

He leaves his second wife Judy, son and daughter Nick and Sarah, and five grandsons and a great-granddaughter.

Mr Hancock received an MBE from the Queen in 2000 for his services to the community, which also included chairing the village cricket club for 30 years and serving as Somerset Cricket League secretary for 25 years.

He became a football coach after taking a course at Kilve Court in 1965 and later successfully applied for the centre’s deputy director post, where he worked and lived for 36 years, taking charge on the retirement of lead director Leslie Hoose.

Mr Hancock faced the challenge of saving the centre from closure in the 1980s when the then-county council made financial cuts and gave him 12 months to turn it around.

He was acknowledged as the man who made it the respected educational and activity centre for which it is known today.

Mr Hancock was also the Somerset representative for the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and worked with The Prince’s Trust, was chairman of Minehead Round Table, and founded a West Quantoxhead table based in Kilve’s Hood Arms.

His first wife Wendy, nee Arch, died suddenly in 1999, and he remarried in 2001, moving to Ruishton on retirement.

Kilve resident Peter Hares paid tribute to Mr Hancock in the village magazine.

Mr Hares said: “He had many set-backs in life and should be applauded for the way he dealt with them and his contribution to life in general.

“Originally from Weston-Super-Mare, Ray came to Kilve Court and quickly became a stalwart of village life.

“With the support of Wendy, and his wide range of contacts throughout the county, Ray became very involved in local affairs.

“Sadly, Ray had to cope with the totally unexpected loss of Wendy.

“Moving on, supported by his family, Ray returned to his varied roles in sport and local affairs.”