Simon Hayward writes: It is with considerable sadness that we report the death of Ray Botha. We send our sympathies to his daughter Sim, his son Tyler and grandchildren Damon and River.
Ray had been unwell for some time and was recently discharged from hospital to receive palliative care at home. He died peacefully surrounded by the love of both children.
Ray first visited St. Moritz in the early 1990s and became a member of the SMTC in 1993, and a Life Member in 1998. He was one of a group of South Africans who Digby referred to as “coming from God’s Own Country”. He was a larger-than-life figure and loved the Club, a truly passionate Member. Complex, fun, generous and wonderfully unpredictable. All those who visited him in Cape Town will vouch for his hospitality and generosity. Entering his home was like entering an extension of the Cresta Shop. He loved Christopher Bledisloe “Lordy” and was often invited shooting at Lydney. It led to the creation of the unofficial St. Moritz Cresta Shooting Club. This too, involved days of enjoyment in the Czech Republic, not to mention other ones in all parts of England. He was also a member of the Cresta Team which went to play elephant polo in Nepal in 2000, again unofficially know as the “Cresta Punani’s”, the true meaning of which caused much hilarity in attempts to hide it from American television broadcasters. He went bone fishing in the Seychelles with Cresta friends. He invited Digby to Cape Town which involved a trip on the Blue Train and a visit to the Rourke’s Drift and Isandlwana Battle Fields, in which Digby delighted. Whether he delighted as much in a flight in Ray’s Tiger Moth, which broke on landing, is up for debate.
Although Ray much enjoyed riding, his accomplishments did not match the fun! Best time from Top – 60.21 in 1999. Best time from Junction – 45.49 in 2006. He won the Father’s and Son’s race with Tyler in 1998. He did not ride so much in the latter years but took great comfort from the updates he would receive from the “Inner Circle”. He took enormous pride in Tyler’s outstanding achievements on ice.
Ray Botha was the archetypal “Honey Monster” with the heart of a lion. There was nothing that would have been too much trouble for him in support of his friends. He would travel to the “ends of the world” if he found someone was in need. James Sunley and others will remember a lunch in Cape Town, many years ago, when the Higginson children thought he was Hagrid. He loved other people’s offspring almost as much as he loved his own. Indeed, he could not have loved and supported Sim and Tyler more than he did. The arrival of his grandchildren gave him more pleasure than words alone could describe.
Ray was brought up and educated in South Africa. He started a licensing business called The Famous Name Company. He worked for Disney and eventually ran the franchise for the whole of South Africa. He founded a highly successful company making heated towel rails, which not only exported to Europe and America but also provided employment for hundreds of South Africans. All of these produced the wherewithal for him to indulge in his “Toys”. He owned a string of Aston Martins, both vintage and modern, several concourse E-Type Jaguars, mountains of motorcycles. Indeed, he was a founder member of a motorcycle “gang” of the elderly and adventurous which roamed far and wide in isolated regions of South African deserts. He loved Land Rovers, and his home parking bays were full of Range Rovers. Maybe his favourite “toy” was his beloved Tiger Moth biplane - one of several airplanes he owned. He was an accomplished pilot.
Ray will be remembered for his love of life. For his love of music. For his love of family and friends. Our condolences not only go to Sim and Tyler but also to Di, the mother of his children, whom I am certain he secretly loved until the end.
In summary, this is something that Ray would repeat and laugh at.
“Let me die in my sleep. Not screaming and shouting in terror like my passengers!”
Best wishes
Annabel
