Ralph then ran a newsagent near the Sutton Football Club from 1952. Tragedy struck when the manager unexpectedly died and in 1954 Ralph was knocked down by a motorcycle. Because of these and other problems, Ralph had to give up the news agency. Ralph's parents had parted and he and his mother set up a printing works manned by disabled people, which ran until he married. He later worked in Rentwood where he also did some printing. He was until last year a very successful street collector for the Winged Fellowship, a charity that provides disabled people with holidays.
Ralph had first become involved in the charity field through the British Council for the Welfare of Spastics. His parents and others considered that the Council was not doing enough for its members. They formed a branch of the Spastic Fellowship in Croydon and then in Epsom. In order to recruit more members, Ralph wrote a letter in the local newspaper. Among the replies was one from Lily Smith and, as they say, the rest is history.
After marriage, they set up home in Epsom and moved to their present home in Ashtead in 1962. For many years, they would walk to Leatherhead and Epsom, but now have to use wheel chairs.
