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The installation of a new flagpole to commemorate one of Chertsey’s most well-respected and loved characters has started at St Peter’s Church in Chertsey.

The flagpole is being installed outside the church as a memorial to Ray Lowther, who died last January. Mr. Lowther was known locally as ‘Mr Chertsey’, and the flagpole is a fitting memorial to a man who, for more than 50 years, was a town councillor and civic representative.

Local boat builders, Michael Dennett and his son Stephen, were asked to make the flagpole by The Chertsey Society. The previous flagpole at the church had to be removed in 2009 as it had become unsafe due to rot. The Chertsey Society set up the Ray Lowther Memorial Appeal following Mr. Lowther’s death, in order to raise the £10,746 that was needed to pay for the flagpole. The appeal was a resounding success, and donations soon mounted up.

Malcolm Loveday, The Chertsey Society chairman, said that everyone was looking forward to seeing a flag fly outside St Peter’s Church again, especially one that was a tribute to Ray Lowther.

Mr Loveday said, “We are still about £1,700 short so we are hoping to raise that soon as we want to have the pole in place in time to fly the flag for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.”