Born locally in North Thoresby, Ray qualified as an Environmental Health Officer in 1979 and then followed a career exclusively in Local Government. He lived in Essex and Bedford for a number of years before returning as Chief Environmental Health Officer at Grimsby Borough Council and retired in 2009 as the Strategic Director of Environmental Services at North East Lincolnshire Council.

In May 2013 he was elected Councillor for South Ward in North East Lincolnshire and was appointed to the Council’s Cabinet, being Portfolio Holder for Environment and Housing in 2013 and Regeneration and Skills in 2014. In May 2015 Ray became Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council and held the Portfolio for Regeneration, Skills and Enterprise.

Since leaving North East Lincolnshire Council, Ray has remained active and chaired numerous voluntary groups locally, most recently becoming Vice Chair of YMCA Humber.