Wie in 1993 de Eerste Europese Conventie in Kerkrade heeft bijgewoond, weet wie Simon Woof en Ray Saunders zijn. Zij gaven daar een perfecte opvoering van The Driver’s License sketch voor een enthousiast publiek, dat minutenlang applaudiseerde.
Het spijt ons te moeten meedelen dat Ray Saunders, de man die Ollie speelde, op 5 juli is overleden.
We laten hier de tekst volgen die A.J. Marriot op Facebook heeft geplaatst.
A.J. bracht Ray en Simon samen en was hun regisseur; hij speelde ook de politieman in de sketch.
“It is with deep sadness that I have to report the death of the multi-talented Ray “OLLIE” Saunders, who passed away on Tuesday 5th July. Ray was first brought to the notice of members of the ‘Sons of the Desert’ when he performed at the Stan Laurel Centenary Convention, in Blackpool in 1990 – in front of special guest Lord Delfont – the man who had brought the ‘real’ Laurel & Hardy to Britain in 1947. Along with partner Simon Wooff, Ray was also a guest at Helpmates Conventions, where they did the dance to “At the Ball – That’s All” in perfect synchronicity with the film clip being projected behind them. At the 1992 European Convention in Rolduc, the multi-national packed audience were treated to the full version of “The Driver’s Licence” sketch, plus the song “Shine on Harvest Moon,” for which they rightly gave ‘Ray & Simon’ a well-deserved 5-minute standing ovation. Other of Ray’s highlights include TWICE being requested, to do TV sketches with Roy Castle as Stan. He leaves behind a widow, Sheila, two daughters, and a lot of happy memories.”