Target Ray

Article by Kathleen Hay
Standard-Freeholder
January 15, 2008

Ray admits he'll try almost once, and it's no different with his creativity. The retired hairstylist emigrated to Cornwall in 1963 and has led a busy life not only doing upswept bubbles, but singing, dancing and learning as many kinds of arts-related talents - like pottery - that he fits into a busy life.

Ray Target is a native of Dagenham, Essex, England. The youngest of seven children, he emigrated at age 23 to Cornwall in 1963 to follow in the footsteps of one of his sisters, Edith.

Prior to arriving in Canada, Ray - who's full name is Raymond Alan - had gained experience in tailoring, furniture sales and hairstyling. As a hairstylist in London, he worked near Piccadilly Circus and often did the hairdos for local show girls.

His own performance career began as an entertainer in men's clubs, some what like our own Royal Canadian Legions, he explained. He'd learned how to dance at a young age and would perform song and dance routines, as well as pantomimes.

Upon arriving in Cornwall, he found employment at Votre Beauté hairstyling salon which he later purchased from its owner. Shortly after his arrival, too, in Cornwall, Ray began performing with both the Cornwall Operatic Society and the Cornwall Little Theatre, plus, Glen Productions when it was later formed.

His first show, The Merry Widow, with the COS, saw him working backstage, and his first onstage role was in Kiss Me Kate. Ray proudly proclaims he's "done everything in theatre, except the lights. I didn't know anything about electricity."

Over the years, he's been heavily involved in choral work. He was a longtime member of the Centennial Choir, and a past president of the organization. He is currently singing with Chorus Novus and recently took on the role of president for it.

In 2000, Ray decided to retire from the theatre and took up several arts related hobbies, including jewelry making, stained glass wood working, metal working, silk screening and pottery, which he now concentrates his efforts on. In addition, he's a talented knitter and crochetter, plus he dabbles in ikebana.

Ray met his wife, Alice, through the Cornwall Little Theatre. In1969, the couple married. In recent years, she has become afflicted with Alzheimer's and currently resides in Glen-Stor-Dun Lodge, where Ray is now an active volunteer.

Q1. What did you do for trouble as a kid?
Stealing flowers out of someone's garden. I was 10 or 12. We'd only take two or three at a time. There were a lot of bombed-out sites and we'd take the flowers to those spots to make-up bouquets. Then we'd sell them outside hospitals. We never got caught and only make enough money to buy fish and chips.

Q2. Where did you learn to tap dance?
At Madame Olga's. It was a dance studio. My sisters had to baby-sit me and they would take me to their dance lessons. I'd copy them and that's how I started dancing when I was, maybe, around two or three. When I was older, I used to go and take lessons on my own.

Q3. What would be your dance of choice on Dancing with the Stars?
I have two I love to do. I like the old-fashioned Viennese waltz and the quick step. The quick step is all about timing. You're mostly on the balls of your feet hopping around.

Q4. What was your very first show?
Dick Whittington and His Cat. It's a children's pantomime where the cat goes to London to see the Queen. I would have been about age five. It was held in the West Ham Palace, in West Ham. I played a mouse, and I was
also a Teddy bear. That's where I got fleas in one of the costumes.

Q 5. How did you meet your wife?
We knew each other quite well, but the first time we got cozy was at a party hosted by Marion Taylor after a play. I was teaching Alice how to dance. Then that was it. We were both taking lessons from Berenice Dickson at
the time. I'd pick Alice up then we'd go out for drinks later.

Q6. If you had the opportunity, is there anything you'd do over?
No, I don't think so. There's lots of things I'd like to have changed, but not do over.

Q7. What's your favourite British fare?
Fish and chips! The old English fish and chips. It's got to be greasy to be good. I only use malt vinegar on them, I never saw that white crap 'til I came here. No tartar sauce, and no ketchup.

Q8. What do you miss most about England?
If I really, really miss anything about England, I suppose it's the convenience of getting around in the big city.

Q9. If you could do anything once, and live to tell, what would it be?
So many things! There are! Okay ... be a peacemaker in your own town and live to tell about it. I'm not talking about being a police officer. But a peacemaker. Life's too short to hold grudges, bitch and complain at each other. If people would see things from the other person's side of the fence, instead of just their own, life would be much better.

Q10. What was the most requested hairstyle?
It all depended on the period. The one I hated the most was the upsweep with bubbles. Everybody wanted it! It would stay in for a week if you put enough hairspray on it.

Q11. If life is like a box of chocolates, what flavour chocolate would you be?
Something crispy-crunchy, or a caramel that goes on and on and on. Or a sweet and sticky cherry!

Q12. All-time favourite musical?
Les Misérables. First of all, I read the book and when I heard they were making a musical of it, I thought, "What the Hell? How are they going to fit this into three hours?" But I was absolutely mesmerized by it. I like the drama, the opera comedy relief that broke you away from the heaviness of it. And it was still a boy meets girl love story.

Q13. If there was a movie about your life, who would you chose to play Ray Target?
Benny Hill, he's a character. Or Ronnie Corbert of The Two Ronnies. He's funny.

Q14. What's your major knitting accomplishment?
I had so many! But I always tackled things I thought I couldn't do. I knitted a full-length coat once, and I also knitted Alice a three-piece suit, complete with a lined skirt. I hate to tell you how many baby shawls I made.

Q15. Who's the most over-rated performer today?
Céline Dion. She screams, she doesn't sing . She makes more money than Barbra Streisand, and I don't know why. I also can't stand Anne Murray. I think a lot of stars are overpaid.

Q16. Biggest pet peeve?
Everything gets on my nerves, but it doesn't bug me too long. I'm not one to harp on things.

Q17. What do you like to watch on the telly?
I only watch two channels - PBS and TSN. I love watching curling on television, and if I'm home Sunday mornings I'll watch soccer. I enjoy the murder mysteries on PBS. Since they took Archie Bunker off, there's no good television anymore. I loved that show.

Ql8. What was your childhood ambition?
Surviving growing up. We were deprived a lot. I was 15 or 16 before I got my first piece of new clothes. I was 18 before I got my first Easter egg. Everything was rationed, including sweets. You could always get stuff on the black market, but you had to have the money to pay for it.

Q19. Who was your first kiss?
I can't remember! When you're in the theatre ....

Q20. Worst habit?
Biting my nails. I've been doing it for donkey years.