A WELL-respected rugby league stalwart, who grew up in Hessle Road, has died after a long battle with cancer.
Ray Fletcher was born in Tyne Street and grew up in the shadow of the Boulevard Stadium.
Such was his passion for both rugby league and writing, when he was younger, Ray would make up match reports with fictional characters.
He went to Chiltern Primary School and then Riley's Technology School and played rugby at both places.
He also played for Boulevard Juniors.
When he left, he decided to go to Leeds to be nearer the rugby league scene.
He carried out freelance work before getting a job at the Yorkshire Post library.
Eventually, he got his dream job as rugby league correspondent for the newspaper, which he held for 20 years from 1975 to 1995.
He also produced the Rothmans Rugby League Year Book from 1980-1999 and wrote a number of other publications on Hull FC and the Boulevard years.
He also became the official statistician for the Ruby League in 1981.
Ray's brother Harry Fletcher, of Lodge Street in east Hull, paid tribute.
He said: "He got cancer about five years ago and he was very stoic about it.
"He always insisted people talk about the disease and not hide away from it.
"He battled hard but it had spread all over.
"He was my little brother and he was a great lad.
"He was just so easygoing and was a real gentleman.
"He always insisted on wearing a tie to games."
As well as rugby, Ray had a keen interest in boxing.
He also loved walking and photography.
Harry said: "His passions were always rugby and boxing. I could never get him into cricket.
"His boxing highlight was covering the Lennox Lewis vs Frank Bruno fight in Cardiff."
Ray died aged 73 and leaves behind his wife of 48 years, Muriel, and their two children, Caroline and Matthew.
The funeral will be held on Tuesday, September 24, in Leeds.
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