BENNETT, Raymond George
Raymond George Bennett was born at 28 St Clement's Fore Street, Ipswich on 11 May 1874, second son of Frederick Bennett (1846-8 May 1916), a builder, and his wife Eliza née Catchpole (1845-20 September 1922), who married at St Mary Quay Church, Ipswich on 21 October 1869. In 1896 Raymond, and two of his friends, became seriously ill with typhoid fever, which was attributed to eating oysters that they had caught whilst yachting at West Mersea, Essex. Raymond married at All Saints' Church, Ipswich on 3 August 1898, Elizabeth (Bessie) Field (5 January 1875-28 June 1957), daughter of architect Arthur Field, and in 1901 was a 26 year old builder's manager, living at 5 St Helen's Street, Ipswich with his 26 year old wife Elizabeth, who was born at Norwich, and they were still living at the same address ten years later with the addition of a 1 year old daughter, Mary Christine [Grummitt]. In 1921, Raymond was the managing director of Bennett & Snare, building contractors, living at 46 Corder Road, Ipswich with his wife and daughter and in 1939, a master building contractor, still living at 46 Corder Road, Ipswich with his wife Elizabeth. A member of the Ipswich Art Club 1939-1953 and exhibited from 46 Corder Road, Ipswich in 1941, three works 'Piemont, Jersey', 'The Smuggler's Path' and 'Corbiere, Jersey', in '1942 'The Servant's Wing', 'On Foxhall Heath' and 'Down Belstead Way', in 1943 three oils 'Sunlight and Shadow', 'Old Ipswich' and 'The Woodman' and in 1944 he exhibited another 'Corbiere, Jersey', and in 1945 an oil 'Greve De Lecq, Jersey' but did not exhibit again. Raymond George Bennett was of 46 Corder Road, Ipswich when he died at Foxhall Road Hospital, Ipswich on 16 October 1953, aged 79.