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Ted retires after forty-six
years service for Cecil Newling
It was way back in September 1960 when Ted Rayment
joined Cecil Newling, the local funeral directors
now located in Market Hill, Royston. Now after
forty-six years loyal and excellent service Ted
has decided it’s time to retire.
After leaving school, aged fifteen, Ted joined
Goode’s Engineering in Royston and worked
there for nearly five years until the business
closed down. He then began working for Cecil Newling
and worked with Cecil at their premises at Green
Drift, Royston.
Like Cecil, Ted was a master craftsman and was
highly skilled and meticulous in making coffins.
Commenting on his expertise Beverley Lodge, director
of Cecil Newling, said “I’ve never
seen anyone make coffins more skilfully than Ted,
he always took a real pride in his work”.
In September 1965 Ted married Mary at Holy Trinity
Church in Meldreth, where Mary had grown up. They
have now been married for forty-one years and
have two grown up sons, Anthony and Andrew as
well as a new little granddaughter called Kate.
Recalling the days when Ted worked alongside
Cecil, Mary commented “Ted was very close
to both Cecil and his wife Vera, they were more
friends than an employer and employee relationship”.
In 1991, Cecil decided to retire and sold the
business to Lodge Brothers a seventh generation
family of funeral directors. The company also
own T. L. Cobbold in St. Neots and Woodman &
Son in Biggleswade.
Cecil Newling sadly died in 2005 and his wife
Vera passed away just a few months later.
Speaking about his years of service to the family
owned business Beverley Lodge said “Ted
was always immaculate in his appearance and an
exceptional hearse and limousine driver, and of
course he always knew his way to anywhere without
every referring to a map. The cars were always
cleaned to perfection and the maintenance work
he carried out around our three local branches
was always to the highest standards. Ted would
never be hurried in order to carry out his work
properly.
“He has had an impeccable attendance record,
has never been late and his loyalty to the company
has been exemplary. Ted will be a difficult act
to follow. His loyalty, professionalism, caring
and friendly nature, attention to detail and master
skills are rarely seen today and will be greatly
missed not just by Cecil Newling but by the funeral
business as a whole. Local people will also miss
Ted as he always stopped to talk to them as they
passed by.”
Away from work, Ted’s passion and main
interest is classic cars. He currently owns two,
a 1933 Austin Seven he bought in 1980 and restored
from scratch and a 1953 MG TD purchased in 1975.
He drives them on special occasions and spends
his spare time cleaning them and keeping them
in first class working order. The hearses and
limousines at Cecil Newling have always received
the same care and attention and Ted kept them
in pristine condition.
Cecil Newling have arranged a special Retirement
and Christmas Dinner for all their staff on December
8th to celebrate Ted’s retirement.
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