Tributes paid to Evenwood community stalwart Raymond

TRIBUTES have been paid to an Evenwood community stalwart who dedicated much of his life to serving his home village.
Raymond Gibson died in hospital on January 5 aged 91.
Mr Gibson was born in 1925 at Shirley Terrace, opposite what is now the Randolph Community Centre – a building that would come to play an important role in his life.
As a hands-on member of the centre, Mr Gibson served as treasurer and helped to run the discos. His most recent act of benevolence was when he donated a large sum of cash to the centre in April last year.
As a result, the hall was named as the Raymond Gibson Hall, a lasting legacy to him. The former Evenwood School building was where Mr Gibson and his sister Dorothy were taught in their primary years.
At the age of 16, he began working for the National Coal Board (NCB) with his father at the village’s coke works and then at Brusselton Colliery, near West Auckland.
During the war years, Mr Gibson also joined the Home Guard and was a Boy Scout, which fostered his love of the outdoors.
After being made redundant by the NCB in 1969, he spent the rest of his working days as a kitchen porter at Evenwood School.
Away from work Mr Gibson became heavily involved in local politics.
He served as a parish councillor for Evenwood and Barony Parish Council for more than 30 years up until October last year and was also a leader of the former Teesdale District Council.
Former colleague at Teesdale District Council Phil Hughes said: “He served his community well for an awful long time. He was a caring councillor who did an awful lot for Evenwood.”
Mr Gibson was one of many who campaigned in the early 1970s for the former National School to become the community centre which it is today. He was also treasurer of Evenwood and Ramshaw Community Association (ERCA) for a number of years.
Cllr Mary Prince, secretary of ERCA, said: “Raymond was a very good treasurer for many years. He was always very helpful. He put his heart and soul into it. He had to retire from ERCA 12 months ago but even so, he did a lot of good work. He will be a big miss.”
He was also involved with the Evenwood Action Group, a member of the Tidy Village Group and a trustee of the Jacob Wright Almshouses – a role he was proud of.
Although he was a Methodist, Mr Gibson showed his support for the chapels in the village and St Paul’s Church.
Before Teesdale Days Clubs was created, he was involved in the early days of the luncheon club. He was also once a school governor at Evenwood Primary School and Ramshaw Primary School as well as Staindrop Academy.
Until a few years ago, he was treasurer of the Teesdale Visually Handicapped Club in Barnard Castle.
Mr Gibson found great joy in his dogs which he regarded as family. He also had a passion for music, loved to watch Dad’s Army on TV, enjoyed trips to the Lake District and would often reminisce about holidays to Redcar, Marsden Bay or Scarborough.
The clerk of Evenwood and Barony Parish Council, Martin Clark, said: “Cllr Raymond Gibson represented this parish with distinction for many, many years and was known to be a true gentleman, not only in this community but across Teesdale.
“His uncanny knack of recalling past debates and decisions will be sorely missed.
“Raymond was considered a friend by many as he dedicated a large part of his life to serving the community where he was born and grew up. The parish council has been proud to sit alongside Raymond and he will be sadly missed.”