Raine family

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William Stephenson Raine was a prominent member of the town from the very early 1900s.

He was born in the town of Barnard Castle in 1880, and moved to Hungerford c.1905.

He was an architect, and served on Hungerford RDC and Berkshire County Council.

Mrs Angela Evans (Joy Peart's daughter) remembered (in March 1992) that the house called Hillside in Salisbury Road had been built as a wedding present for her grand-parents (that is her mother's parents, with the surname Raine) a family of builders. The date stone on the house says that this was in 1908. However, Hillside opened as a small private school for "the Sons of gentlemen", run by Miss Hemming. It had six boys, but moved to larger premises in 1911.

W.S. Raine had two daughters - the elder Joy married Launcelot Peart in 1936 and their first home was Mill Hatch, 7a Bridge Street.

Both Mr and Mrs Raine lost brothers in the 1st World War - within a few days of each other. Mrs Raines brother, Second Lieutenant R.A. Bance, Royal Berkshire Regiment, died on 9 Aug 1916 only a few days before Mr Raine's brother, Second Lieutenant Len Raine.

Between the 1930s and 1973, Hungerford RDC Offices were at 128 High Street,

W.S. Raine was Constable of Hungerford for four years 1941-45 during the 2nd World War. The Croft Hall opened as a British Restaurant in 1942. The Newbury Weekly News, 29 Jan 1942, reported "Hungerford is to be congratulated on having opened a British Restaurant in the town, and Mr Forest, the Deputy Divisional Food Officer for the Southern Command, said it was one of the best he had yet seen.The well-cooked luncheon was admirably served in an atmosphere of complete friendliness.The Vicar, who opened the restaurant, commented on the various uses to which the Church house had been put and the constable (Mr W.S. Raine) said he had no doubt the new restaurant would serve a useful purpose. The rooms used will accommodate 250 people, and Mrs McNulty the manageress, who was responsible for the excellent meal on Tuesday, may be trusted to maintain a high standard of efficiency."

The death of W.S. Raine:

The NWN 4th July 1955 recorded the death of William Stephenson Raine: "50 years of public service. A prominent Hungerford resident who devoted his life to public service, Mr William Stephenson Raine, died at his home Hillside, yesterday at the age of 75.

Born at Barnard Castle, Co. Durham, was for 40 years surveyor to Hungerford District Council and earned the reputation of being one of the most able local government officials in the county. His rural housing schemes between the wars were a model followed by many other district councils. When he retired in 1945 he had completed over 44 years local government work.

Food officer and Magistrate: At the end of the 1914 war he was awareded the MBE for his work as honorary food executive officer at Hungerford and during the second world war he actedin the same voluntary capacity.

Mr Raine was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1942 and his qualities were early acknowledged when he became chairman of the Lambourn bench only three years later. In January 1950 he was appointed chairman of the Hungerford magistrates and he retired at the end of May.

He filled the office of Constable of Hungerford with considerable ability, being elected to the office in 1941 and continuing for four years.

County Council Service: Elected to Berkshire County Council in April 1949, Mr Raine was still a member at the time of his death. He was a forthright speaker and his views, backed as they were by his considerable knowledge and experience, always carried much weight among his fellow councillors. He was chairman of Hungerford Council School managers, of the War Memorial committee - which brought to fruition the scheme for providing the playing fields of which the town is so proud - and of the former Air Training Corps. He was alsoo chairman of the directors of Hungerford Waterworks Undertaking.

In his younger days, Mr Raine played a lot of golf. In more recent years he was a keen bowler and belonged to the Newbury Club. Another of his hobbies was bridge and he was a member of the Winchcombe Club in Newbury.

One of the district's foremost Freemasons, Mr Raine was past Master of the 574 Hope Lodge, the 6307 St Bartholomews Lodge, the 3684 Berks Masters' Lodge, and held office in the 4748 Hungerford Lodge. He was a past Provinical Grand-Warden of Berkshire, and past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies of England.

He leaves a widow, two daughters and a son.

The funeral takes place privately with a request for no flowers. A memorial service will be held at St Saviour's Church, Hungerford, on Wednesday at 2pm."

See also:

- Hillside School

- Mill Hatch, 7a Bridge Street.

- Mr Raine's brother, Second Lieutenant Len Raine.