Ray, Cyril

In 1956, he edited the first of what were to be perhaps his most lasting contribution to the literature of wine, 16 volumes of The Compleat Imbiber, compilations of stories, comments, and verses, although the ‘pirate’ edition, produced in later years without his seeing the proofs, provoked a special outburst of his famous rage against publishers. He also became wine correspondent of the Observer newspaper, Punch weekly magazine (where he was also a consultant to their purchases of wine), and the Spectator.