THE family of a proud Falklands War veteran from Hutton are in mourning following his shock death at the age of 53.
Able Seaman Ray Hall served on HMS Hermes during the 1982 conflict with Argentina.
The Marine Engineer Mechanic, who had enlisted in the Royal Navy five years earlier, was on board the aircraft carrier during the devastating Argentine air strikes which claimed the lives of many British sailors.
The grandfather-of-two, from Colet Road, will be honoured with a full military service and his ashes will be scattered in the sea off Portsmouth, where he was based.
According to his daughter, Mr Hall was a popular figure around Brentwood.
After leaving the Navy due to a broken leg suffered during a hit-and-run motorbike accident, he became a supporter of the Royal British Legion Youth Band in Brentwood and collected funds for the Poppy Appeal for many years.
The father-of-two also became a familiar face around the town after working on the counter at the post office in Brentwood before it closed in 2008.
His daughter Carolynne Naughton, 30, whom he supported during her time with the RBL Youth Band, explained how serving his country "meant everything" to her father.
"He always spoke really highly of the Navy, he loved it," she said.
"It was everything to him and he just loved the history and everything that comes with being part of the Navy."
Mr Hall, who adored spending time with his grandchildren, Harry, four, and Bethany, two, was born in Bermondsey, south-east London, and moved to Brentwood when he was four years old.
The Shenfield High School pupil joined in the fundraising effort to build Hutton Community Centre, and although it is now closed, Brentwood Borough Council last week announced that funds have been made available to revive the centre.
As well as his time with the post office, Mr Hall worked for a short time with P & O Ferries and for 16 years with Senate Electrical after leaving the military.
Mrs Naughton paid tribute to her father, who was "always smiling".
"He was brilliant as a father, he was so encouraging and someone who I could just talk to all the time, whether he agreed or disagreed he would always support me," she said.
"He was always happy and he never showed that anything got him down, he was a really good guy.
"Dad was just a very fun-loving character, when he went into a room he just lit it up because of his character and charisma, he was always there with a smile on his face."
In the early hours of February 8, Mr Hall suffered a sudden heart attack while at home and despite great effort, the paramedics were unable to revive him.
His sudden unexpected passing has left the family devastated, according to Mrs Naugton, who was speaking to her father on the telephone just three hours before his death.
She said: "I just cannot put it into words, it was absolutely unexpected.
"I was only speaking to him that night and then my sister rang me and told me what had happened."
John Wyndham MBE, the founder of the Brentwood Royal British Legion Brentwood Youth Band, paid tribute to Ray Hall, who remained a supporter of the group long after his daughter left the fold.
He said: "Ray was a nice man, a good man and he always had an genuine interest in what we were doing.
"He stayed a strong supporter of our band right up until he death, he took a great interest in what we were doing and that was over a great number of years."
Eunice Woolmore, who organises the Poppy Appeal in Brentwood, paid tribute to Mr Hall, who helped raise funds for the Royal British Legion for many years at Senate Electrical and in Shenfield.
"It was very sad news," she said. "Ray came to me asking to help, it wasn't that he was someone I recruited. Sadly I didn't get to meet him, he was always a voice on the phone to me, but its great that people like Ray come around to lend us a hand."
Mr Hall has been survived by his mother, Marian, 75, his wife Gillian, 53, his daughters Debra, 33, and Carolynne, 30, and grandchildren, Harry, 4 and Bethany, 2.
The former seaman's funeral will be held at Bentley Crematorium in Ongar Road, Brentwood, at 11am, on February 21.
This will be followed by drinks at The Bull pub in Brook Street, Brentwood.
Anyone who knew Mr Hall is welcome and the family request that guests dress in bright colours or military uniform.
The family has requested no flowers, but anyone who wishes to make a donation to the Royal British Legion should send payment to Bennetts Funeral Directors, High Street, Brentwood.
