Well dad, life is still so hard without you, such a hole has been left behind, in a world full of fake people you gave me hope, miss you so much, say hello to my babies up there and give them a cuddle from me.

To the Bayfords Just discovered on the internet you lost Raymond a few years ago. I worked with your dad when I was a teenager as a trainee baker in Redbridge, La Patisserie, for three years, Ray had a tremendous impact on my life through his great sense of humour and skill as a baker. I even got to name my company 18 years ago after he and Barbara waved good bye to me as I left for the world. Belated condolences to you al in the UK. Sincerely Richard Harris, www.lapatisserie.ca info@lapatisserie.ca Ray, I never forgot what you taught me

Another year gone Dad, miss you more and more everyday, trying to make you proud, Love Stewart

This morning your website just opened itself on our computer all by itself, so I just had a little read then a little cry, I miss you, my kids miss you.

Another year passed Dad, love you miss you, thank you for teaching me so much, all my love always.

Dont stand at my grave and weep;Iam not there,ido not sleep,Iam a thousand winds that blow,Iam the diamond glints on snow.I am the sunlight on ripened grain.I am the gentle autumns rain, When you awaken in the morning hush..I am the soft stars that shine at night.Do not stand at my grave and cry;Iam not there.Idid not die. Ray it was wonderful to have meet you,you were a true Gentleman rest in peace my friend.love Marie and Andy xx

my dad,my big strong dad. i cannot believe you have gone,its not sinking in. if i could be just half the man you was then that would be an acheivement. i love and miss you. rest in peace

My Uncle Ray Well, what can say about my dear Uncle Ray? I came into this world in 1955 when he was 15 years old. A prime candidate as a readymade babysitter made all the more appealing as my late parents had one of the few TV. Sets in the Holloway area, & Ray, always on the lookout for a good night out, must have thought he’d struck gold! Little did he know when he said, ‘yes, she’ll be fine with me’ that I was a spoilt little madam with a fine pair of lungs & an even greater wish to be center of attraction as the first born grandchild of the Bayford family & apple of Granddad Charlie’s eye. My first real recollection of Ray was of him taking the arms & legs off of one of the many dolls bought for me by granddad Charlie & throwing them across the room, making me ‘run’ to pick them up & try to put them back on, this was years before Krypton Factor came on the box, pity he didn’t patent the idea. Needless to say, this kept me busy for a few hours, so he could watch 65 Special or whatever it was in them days. Next real memory was sitting in the front row at the Dominion Tottenham Court Road watching West Side Story, my goodness, we’d gone ‘Up West’ for our birthday (mine is 27th July, Ray’s 28th) so started my life long love affair with West End stage musicals & Hollywood blockbusters. What an afternoon we had! Like to think we went to the Aberdeen Steak House afterwards, but last Sunday when we had our last lunch together, I learnt that this particular venue was reserved for the lad’s night out, & maybe the odd date where he was out to impress. Given that he said last week that he ran a car, had a great social life, & left a few bob at home for Nanny on £5 a week, I guess I was lucky to get a Kiora orange & choc ice that memorable day! Nevertheless, he has something to answer for to this day as I cannot pass a West End theatre with a musical on without buying a ticket, have been known to spend many an afternoon in the Finchley multiplex with grumbling grandchildren thinking they were going to Ice Age 3 or Harry Potter in 3D only to be confronted with a load of tap dancers & a chorus line (thank God for popcorn, pick n mix & early supper McD as a bribe!) & whereas the highlight of any New York trip for most is the Statue of Liberty or Time Square, mine has always been Broadway every night. This is why I’ve loved him all my life. He showed me another way forward; I could reach for my dream, could do something different from what our family was used to. Get my education, degree & dream job writing ads for the paper, drive a Mercedes-Benz, travel to the States to see him wherever he hung his baker’s apron & generally mess about with his sisters, my mum Lily & aunt Vi in the Florida sunshine. Who else can say they sat by mistake in the Kennedy’s pew at Mass on Easter Sunday in Palm Beach & stayed there because his sister Lil said ‘We were here first!’ & lived to tell the tale? In the last words he said to me on Sunday ‘Love you Kid!’ Dearest darling Uncle Ray, Rest in Peace, say hello to the troops upstairs.

Dear Grandad, miss and love you.

Dear Dad, you were the best, your heart was kind and pure, you was a true gentleman that never had a bad word to say about anybody and I miss you so much it hurts, you were my friend and I cannot believe you have gone. I know you are at peace because you are now with the rest of the family on the other side, I will try always to make you proud, until we meet & speak again, I love you so so much. Please look after my babies whilst you are there. Love Always, your son,Stewart x

Remembrance Remembrance is a golden chain Death tries to break, but all in vain. To have, to love, and then to part Is the greatest sorrow of one's heart. The years may wipe out many things But some they wipe out never. Like memories of those happy times When we were all together.

What is Death? Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away into the next room. I am I and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, that we still are. Call me by my old familiar name. Speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference in your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without affect, without the trace of a shadow on it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same that it ever was. There is absolutely unbroken continuity. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well.

Thank you for setting up this memorial to Raymond Bayford. We hope that you find it a positive experience developing the site and that it becomes a place of comfort and inspiration for you to visit whenever you want or need to.

I am I and you are you, whatever we were to each other that we still are. Speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? Life means all that it ever meant, it is the same as it ever was.