Ray Plunkett died in the early hours of this morning, 26th June following a short period in hospital. His partner, Wendy, was with him and tells us that Ray died peacefully. He was seventy-four years old. Ray was probably better known in wrestling circles than quite a few of the wrestlers he admired. More than one wrestler has been known to comment that Ray knew more about their whereabouts than they knew themselves. From the 1960s onwards Ray collected and compiled wrestling results which he generously shared with other like minded enthusiasts.
In the 1960s he was part of an extensive group of fans that swapped results on a regular basis, followed in later years by literally hundreds, possibly thousands of hours trawling through library newspaper archives. With newspapers digitised it was a case of online searching to create what must have been the largest database of British wrestling bills and results.
Apart from being an ultimate fan Ray was also well known as an official, a referee and Master of Ceremonies for various independent promoters and Dale Martin Promotions.
Our condolences to Ray’s partner, Wendy.
Just so long as someone gets hold of it, It was a life's work and should not be easily dismissed. And whoever does, please let us all know.......
Its probably still on his pc , it was a real lifes work and it is probably still too early for the family to think about what they are going to do with this resource.
The obvious question....what happened to Rays database ??????
Thank you
Wendy asked us to pass on her thanks for all the kind words of comfort and support that Ray's many Wrestling friends have expressed to her and family at this very sad time, she is very grateful. Wendy advised that, as such events go, Ray's funeral on 13th July 2020 went very well although the circumstances were strange because of Covid19. Wendy said that the Service was very nice and special as she wanted for Ray. In the Eulogy, Wendy said that it described Ray's Wrestling interest and the many loyal friends he had in that community. We all still find it very hard to believe that our Wrestling mate Ray has passed away.
Willenhall64 & Wryton
Announcement in today's Eastern Daily Press.
Willenhall, just raised a drink to Ray and I know that Wryton will have raised a glass to Ray. Our thoughts are with Wendy at this terrible time. Ray you made your Wrestling mates world with you in it "A Wonderful World"
Cheers Ray. And thank you.
Just played Songbird and raising my glass to Ray.
Thoughts with Wendy.
Cheers all.
I to will raise a glass at 2.45pm to my dear friend Ray. Also my thoughts are with Wendy at this sad time.
At 2.45, I will raise a glass to Ray. My thoughts also go to Wendy who must be suffering at this sad time.
I've hogged the forum tonight so am bumping this back up for Ray's day. Cheers Ray.
Raise a glass to Ray.
Ray's Funeral will take place at Earlham Crematorium, Norwich on
Monday next, 13 July at 2.45pm.
With Covid 19 restrictions it will be a private, family affair.
The Service will include:
"Song Bird" by Eva Cassidy (entrance)
The Lord's Prayer
"What A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong (exit)
Eulogy will make reference to Ray's Wrestling interest.
Ray's partner, Wendy, has suggested that
at 2.45pm we may wish to raise a glass or cup of tea/coffee and toast to Ray.
Remember when at 4pm on a Saturday we all stopped for the Wrestling on TV,
we can all do that for Ray on Monday!
Wendy thanks everyone for their support, cards and kind comments.
With thanks to Ray’s friends
Steve and Keith.
It was very sad to hear of Ray's passing. Ray was one of the best, a very friendly and genuine guy. We are so grateful to him for all the Wrestling bills, results and material that he shared with us; and for all the hard work and research that he undertook. We so enjoyed his company on the occasions that we met and his telephone chats. It is true to say that we will very much miss our Wrestling mate. Condolences to Wendy and R.I.P. Ray.
Willenhall64 and Wryton.
I was sad to hear of Ray's passing. I have lingered over his 'results' pages (seen on several sites) many, many times and marvelled at the patience and perseverance he must have had, in abundance! When I popped into the pub a few years ago visiting the Reunion, I first approached a likely looking chap who I now believe was Ken Sowden and asked if he had seen 'any of the Heritage boys'. Ken kindly wound me around the garden, through the pub, into the garden again and stopped at a large figure talking to a couple of other punters. It was Ray, having introduced myself the big chap said measuredly 'John Shelvey. That's the last person I thought I would meet today'. We then had a nice chat until he was rescued by Riot Squad in the form of Alan. I envy anyone who had the good fortune to have spent longer in his presence and urge anyone who remembered his conversations about wrestling, to recall same. My condolences, to Ray's family and friends alike.
Ah right so not a wrestler. Apologies for being the prize doughnut who thought he was. Sounds like a great man to have known. My sincere condolences to his friends and family.
Any death is sad and I send condolences to Ray's family and friends. I didn't know him but he seems to have been a man who was greatly respected, loved and will be missed. R.I.P.
The last time I spoke to Ray about his results, he said that he had just over 80,000
There's no reason for you to know Ray unless you knew him personally Frank, though he is still mentioned by members from time to time. Ray wasn't a wrestler. Although he did MC and referee Ray is mostly known by fans as a collector of wrestling bills/results from all over the world, but mainly Britain. His collection is huge, though still a fraction of what was actually happening. His contact with some of the members of this site goes back to the 1960s when we collected and swapped results/programmes and handbills by post. Many more have got to know Ray since the use of the internet became popular. Ray continued to share his passion for results with other fans up to a couple of years ago when he became ill.
Due to my very limited knowledge of wrestling I’m ashamed to say I don’t know this particular wrestler. Judging by what I’m reading here he seems to be a very respected and fondly remembered man, which at the end of the day is the legacy we all hope to leave behind and the only one that really matters .
RIP Ray.
Thanks to Ray for all those results you sent me by post over the years and for handwriting several years of Liverpool bills for me.
I think Ray deserves an honorary degree from a university for his contributions to wrestling research
I'll second that Power. What a great idea.
He gave me and many others, news of items that we would never have seen, especially results.
can I make a suggestion that after a suitable period of time and if his family are ok with it that the Heritage awards bring in a new award, The Ray Plunkett award for being a true ambassador of the golden years of wrestling. Without Ray we would be a lot less knowledgeable.
Sorry that this is so late, but you know computers. Mine would not come on line !.
Sorry to hear of Ray's demise.I knew him well and had many a coffee and a chat about wrestlers and wrestling history in Norwich, before he became ill.
Love and best wishes to Wendy.
Rest In Peace Ray. A man who did a lot to preserve British wrestling.
He was a very very kind man.
Ray will be sadly missed by so many of us as these comments demonstrate. I doubt if any of us could imagine just how much time he spent collating the collection he so generously shared with us. His presence will remain for many years to come.
RIP Ray, a real fountain of wrestling knowledge.
This is very sad news. I am sure that all of us old wrestling fans have learnt a lot from the information in Ray's vast database of old results. We should all be grateful for the many hours of work Ray must have put in compiling his database. Thank you Ray and rest in peace.
Rest in peace Ray :(
Rest In Peace Herodotus of British Wrestling.
I feel truly sad at this news, when I joined heritage Ray contacted for me for any bills ,programmes and any other information on wrestling. He got me to go down to Ilford library to check out wresting information on microfilm. R.I.P Ray.
Very sorry indeed to hear this sad news.
Like others here my interaction with Ray was via e-mail and conversations on this forum however I continually found him to be an invaluable source of infomation which was always imparted in the most gracious manner.
Thank you Ray.
RIP
Ray and Wendy used to come down to the British Library at Colindale, stay overnight and so each put in a day and a half's hard work before going back to East Anglia. We'' all miss you Ray for your input and friendship.
Sorry to hear the sad news regarding my dear friend Ray. We corresponded with each other for years. As Ron mentioned earlier it was strange not to receive a Christmas card this last Christmas. Our thoughts go to Wendy at this very sad times.R.I.P. Ray,from Ian and Margaret.
Such terribly sad news.A true wrestling enthusiast and a fountain of knowledge on our sport.R.I.P Ray.
So sorry to hear the sad news that Ray has passed away. Although I never met him personally, I do feel that I’ve lost a good friend.
When I first started contacting Heritage as a one time wrestler from the early sixties, I was asked for some information on myself and if I had any bills of shows that I appeared on, the answer was no. This however intrigued me, so I started to “dig” into my past. I came across the name of Ray Plunkett, who I privately contacted, asking if he could help me, which he immediately did, in fact the bill which is pictured in my profile on Heritage is from Ray. Through e-mail we have kept in touch over the years, where I’ve been given valuable information on my wrestling past.
Thanks a lot Ray for all your help given and
R.I.P.
I will never forget Ray's incredible excitement when I came on the scene. Being a historian I managed to find a few archives that were not part of the British Library and also did work in the Manchester area collecting bills. Consequently I managed to give him a few thousand bills and he periodically rang me to chat.
He always sent a Chistmas Card and I began to suspect all was not well when he missed this year.
Although I never met Ray I am proud to call him a friend.
His archive is a fantastic legacy and I am so sad he has gone.
Condolences to Wendy and RIP Ray.
A very generous man, who totally out of the blue would offer sets of comprehensive results to total strangers as he did with me, I was extremely grateful as it filled in so many gaps for me, he did this for so many others too, people like Ray are rare and although I never met him I feel he will leave a gap that few could fill. R.I.P. Ray you will be sadly missed.
RIP Ray. I've been working with his files most days over the past few years. He did incredible work there and he will be sorely missed.
Very Sorry to read this Sad News!-I didn't know RAY Personally but like Everyone
Who Loves BRITISH Wrestling-I Certainly Knew OF him!
His Supreme Dedication to The Sport was Matchless! The Massive amount of Time given by RAY to Compile and Build his Results Database was Incredulous
and he Abided by the Golden Community Rule of Generous Sharing!
We're Losing a Highly Respected Friend and Colleague but he has left his
Absolutely Indelible Carbon Footprint in The Annals of BRITISH Wrestling!!
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