Rotherham's Ray Matthews: from marathons to memoirs - a life of boundless energy

After all, he ran 75 marathons in 75 days for his 75th birthday, launched the Rotherham 10K, completed a gruelling trek across the Sahara Desert, did three laps of the 50-mile Round Rotherham race, has written three books, boxed to a high standard and raised tens of thousands of pounds for charities.

It’s a long list of achievements that suggests sitting down for three hours in the Civic talking rather than doing was probably difficult for 81-year-old Ray.

He does, though — well, he stands for a good portion of it — with the aim of discussing the stories contained within his new book Path to Success.

The evening, hosted by Rotherham Radio DJ Stewart Nicholson, includes a Q&A session and special guests such as physio Kay Atkin, Calendar’s Adam Fowler and deputy Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, Bob Dyson.

Describing the 75 in 75 at 75 as “not a big deal”, Ray had this advice for anyone wanting to challenge themselves: “Don’t hold back. Life is too short. “Just go out and do the things you dream of. You can create fabulous memories if you do things.

“There wasn’t one of those marathons I didn’t enjoy.”

Ray’s book is inspirational stuff and he brings his enthusiasm onto the stage.

“By taking care of yourself you are taking care of others,” he says.

“You can make things better for yourself and for everybody.

“To give our best we need to be at our best, and you need to be positive.

“If you go into a room with nine negative people, that will soon become ten.”

Ray’s boxing background is a side people may not know about him.

He recalled: “I was this small lad at St Peter’s School with bright ginger hair and if anyone called me ginger, it was fists up.”

Discipline was learned when ten-year-old Ray walked up the 13 steps inside the Red Lion pub to the boxing club and he soon made the decision to pursue a boxing career rather than football, while running to keep fit.

It wasn’t until his 50s that watching the London Marathon persuaded him to take up running seriously — and we know the rest, but he adds: “I’ve never been the fastest.

“I’ve never been a runner who breaks world records, unless you ask me to run 200 miles.”

In a written tribute, Rotherham Advertiser photographer Dave Poucher said: “Ray is the kind of person you can become instant friends with.

“You soon learn that if he says he is going to do something, it is going to get done.”

Ray is asked if he is unique and says: “If I am unique, I am, but I don’t think so.

The Editor's pick of the news

Decision due on Doncaster Airport demolition planning permit/a>

When does manager Matt Taylor expect new signings at Rotherham United?

Pensioner asks — please help me find my special Rotherham United walking stick

“I’m just me.

“Everything I do is just normal to me.

“With me, what you see is what you get and I enjoy being me.”

Path to Success is out this Sunday, May 28, and is available to pre-order at £10.99 from The Book Guild at https://tinyurl.com/RaysPathtoSuccess.