Ralph Willcox, Senior Community Worker, MKDC

Ralph Willcox was born in Barwell, Leicestershire, his father was a shoemaker. Educated at an intermediate school for technically orientated pupils, he planned an engineering career, like his brothers. However, disenchanted with his first job, he then spent 5 years in the RAF before demob and marriage. While in Aden with the RAF, he had worked with the local population, with a doctor and in prisons, and had become more interested in working with people; so he took a post with the YMCA in 1955 working first in Coalville and Southampton (as an outward bound instructor). Following training in Christianity, he was accepted to train as teacher and youth worker, at Westhill College in Birmingham. From there, he was employed by Norfolk Education Authority as the company youth organiser for western Norfolk. During this time, he was invited to apply for ordination, but didn’t see himself as a priest. He then applied for a post in Hatfield New Town in 1960, employed by the church as a youth and community organiser there. At this time, he got interested in the affect of drugs on people’s lives. Ralph was at Hatfield for 10 years and got to know Peter Waterman well.