The Crown Hotel’s mobility scooter fundraiser smashes target as residents show support for Southwell ‘local legend’ Ray Smith

A town’s residents have got behind a fundraiser in support of a ‘local legend’.

Ray Smith is a familiar face to many people in Southwell, and worked for many years as the town’s street cleaner keeping the area looking its best.

His mobility has declined over recent years and getting out and about with his walking frame is becoming more difficult.

To give back to Ray, who has given years of service to the town, The Crown pub’s James Kemp and manager Hayley Rice are fundraising to pay for a top-of-the-range mobility scooter.

The fundraiser beat its £1,500 target within 24 hours, with the total now standing at £2,185 on The Crown’s GoFundMe page.

Ray said: “They’ve done very well indeed, I wasn’t expecting that.

“I’ve only got my little walker, and from where I live it is a good journey [into the town centre]. It will be a good thing that will.”

The extra money raised will go towards a higher-end mobility scooter, rain cover and any adaptions needed to be made to Ray’s house to accommodate the scooter.

A collection is also being held in the Post Office for people who would rather donate cash or can’t donate online.

James Kemp said: “Ray is Southwell born and bred, he used to be the town cleaner for Southwell Town Council until the mid to late 90s.

“When I was a kid he would be walking the streets with a dustcart. He was an absolute godsend and kept the town imacculate.

“Because of how Ray is, he loves the town, he goes around pulling out weeds and keeping it tidy.

“When he comes to the pub you have to tell him to sit down and have his drink — he wants to be out front pulling up the weeds.”

James explained that Ray is a ‘local legend’, and so many people have memories of him in Southwell.

A street in the town has even been named after him to recognise his hard work in the area.

“He’s a real nice guy that will do anything for anybody — now he needs looking after like how he has looked after people in the town,” he added.

The two collections will be combined at a fundraising funday at The Crown, with a barbeque, bouncy castle and live music, which will also celebrate Ray’s birthday on Saturday, June 17.