Ray's clean sweep after 48 years
POPULAR Cleckheaton street sweeper Raymond Boyce has parked up his dust cart for the last time as he ends 48 years of keeping the town clean.
Best known in recent years for the collection of cuddly toys adorning his cart, Ray began working for the Spenborough Borough Council in April 1962, aged 17.
For most of his time with the council, and later Kirklees, Ray was a dustbin man on the old steel wagons for more than 20 years before becoming a mobile sweeper in 2004.
The much-loved sweeper retired this month at the same time as his wife Clarice, who worked as a cleaner.
"I'm definitely looking forward to having more time, but I'll probably be doing a fair bit of baby-sitting," Ray said.
"I'm also going to be breeding budgies and doing a spot of gardening as well.
"Over the years, I really enjoyed being outside most of all. Saying that, last winter was really hard because it was just so cold."
During his tenure with the council, Ray was given an Appreciation Award by the Spen Valley Civic Society. He was also invited to Buckingham Palace in 2008 as a guest of Kirklees for a Royal Garden Party - but he had to turn it down as he was on holiday.
Chamber of Trade president Viv Laycock presented him with a garden clock as a thank you for his hard work.
She said: "He has worked very hard keeping Cleckheaton clean for so many years, he really will be missed."
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Weather for Cleckheaton
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
