Local Manchester operator Ray Elston has passed, aged 80, we learned this week.

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Ray, who ran Selectomatics from its launch in the 1960s through to 2006, when he retired, suffered a stroke in November, the effects of which he never recovered from. Ray died on January 22.

He and has wife, Jayne, had been married for just over 42 years and had four sons, Mark, David, Robert and the late Alan. When Ray retired, Mark and David took over the business and formed Intouch Amusement.

Ray’s funeral will be held at St Matthew’s Church, Haslington, near Crewe, CW1 5RD on Tuesday, February 20, at 1pm. Our condolences to Jayne and her family.