It's A Shame About Ray

Celebrating Ray Brooks, 20th April 1939 to 9th August 2025.

I was sad to read at the weekend of Ray's passing.

For my generation, Ray is embedded in the best of my childhood memories as the narrator of Mr. Benn. However, this was one credit (albeit in retrospect a huge one) in a long and illustrious career as an actor. 

The other iconic role for me, and again one that has been cemented by countless repeats on TV, is that of David in 1966's second big screen outing for Doctor Who, Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. 

We've another quarter of a century to find out if that particular prophecy is coming true, but Ray's star turn as the super cool resistance leader gave me greater than Bernard Cribbins' bumbling bobby Tom.

But hang on a mo, isn't this supposed to be a music blog? Yes, well... what seems to have been left out of the obituaries that I've read so far is that Ray also wrote, recorded and released a 12-track album in 1971 called Lend Me Some Of Your Time.

The title song was released as a single.

Both album and single seem to have made no impression on the UK charts, as did 1972's follow-up standalone single, Pictures.

I hadn't heard either of them before writing this post, but I enjoyed both songs. 

There are couple of lovely blog posts dating from 2013 and 2014, although sadly Ray's official website is long gone, as therefore are copies of the album on CD for sale at a bargain £3.75.

Bite It Deep: Forgotten Pop Gems From The 60s & 70s

The Downstairs Lounge: Chewy Vinyl Nuggets Of The Very Choicest British Comedy Records

Sadly, my quest to find the album's closing song, Guttersnipe, was unsuccessful...

Farewell, Ray, and thanks for bringing such joy to so many.

And, as you've waited so patiently, as if by magic...