Raphael Grandi (22 Jul 1946 - 2 Sep 2026)

In loving memory of Raphael Grandi who sadly passed away on 2nd September 2026
Raphael John Frank Grandi was born in Middleton Street, East London. His mother Elizabeth (Betty) was Irish and his father Raphael was of Italian descent. He was part of a large Italian family that had emigrated to England where they developed various skills one of which was the asphalt and tarmac trade.
Betty and Raphael soon moved firstly into Welling south London with their only child where he started school. They then moved further south down to West Kingsdown near Brands Hatch in Kent where they bought a house with some land and a shop. Working extremely hard together they extended the shop and eventually starting a successful company called Polo Asphalt and Roofing using trade skills that Raphael senior had learnt from his family.
The young Raphael worked alongside his parents from a very young age, working to build chicken houses on the land for hundreds of chickens . Aged about 12 young Raphael started his own rabbit breeding business, he helped build the rabbit sheds and learnt how to make hutches. Polo Asphalt and Roofing soon established an excellent reputation for perfect workmanship and Raphael would help his father on site whenever he could; it soon became clear that his working future was predetermined.
Known by his younger friends as Raphy and by workmates as Ray, he excelled in the general building trade just like his father and went on to continue the business as Polo Roofing after his father died. Ray's son Jason and Grandson Niall carry on that business today.
After his first marriage Ray bought a new build property in West Kingsdown but soon began to alter it as his family grew after welcoming children Lorriane, Jason and Karen. Ray would finish a hard day's toil and then go home to work on extending and modifying his home. This was to be a trend that happened in every home he bought, always doing the work himself with help from family.
We married and moved to Collier Street in 1996 and have always loved it here. Once again Ray set about knocking down walls, altering the internal layout and building a very large garage. His mechanical digger and Bobcat were frequently to be found in our drive as another project began. As he started to work less he enjoyed becoming involved in village life, helping with projects at the church or around the recreation ground and car park. Ray went to John Doctor's 'men's coffee mornings' and became one of the Woodpeckers churchyard tidying team. Everyone started to find out what a character he was with his many stories, quirky humour and practical jokes.
Unfortunately Ray inherited a chronic kidney disease from his mother and this led to him having a kidney transplant in November 2019. Ever grateful to his deceased donor Ray carried on a few more years of active life continuing our many motorhome holidays with our lovely collies. However, Ray had to take immune suppressants to stop him rejecting the kidney and this led to him suffering numerous infections. He always fought back and carried on with life until he suffered a massive stroke when he was in Pembury Hospital in July 2024. Even then he was determined to get out of his wheelchair and walk again and had weekly physiotherapy until the last infection which was just too much for his body to take.
He was a larger than life character who loved to be busy and help others. He was loving, caring, funny, genuine, generous and very clever. Ray adored his three children and his five grandchildren. He leaves a big hole in our lives and will be greatly missed.
His ever loving Wife Barbara.