FOREWORD by ‘Biff’ (Douglas H Rayner) of Church Hall, Paglesham

The contents of this booklet have been compiled by Albert Rayner Bsc(Econ) FCA, born 27 December 1902 only son of John and Matilda Rayner.

Albert, known affectionately as Bert, lives near Leeds and is still very active, both as a financial director to an engineering firm in High Wycombe and as Honorary Treasurer to Age Concern, Leeds. Bert, in kindly undertaking to write this booklet has, for the past five years, devoted a tremendous amount of energy and time in research at:

The Public Records Office, London.

The Essex County Records Office, Southend-on-Sea.

The Parish registers at Great Wakering,

        Barling

        Little Wakering

                Southchurch.

Furthermore, he has obtained and analysed various census returns and made many visits to members of the Rayner family and to people associated with the family.

I think you will all agree that the foregoing is by no mean achievement for a person in his early eighties and living so far away from the area of investigation. On behalf of, I hope, all the Rayner family, may I express my sincere and grateful thanks for the results of Bert’s endeavours which I hope you will find pleasure in reading.