Tribute to popular Burgess Hill resident and DJ Ron Haines who raised thousands for charity

Ronald Haines, 87, passed away on June 29.

He was well known in Mid Sussex for his work as a DJ and for raising thousands for charity over several decades.

“He was a good natured lad and he was a wonderful brother,” said Ron's sister Doreen, one of his ten siblings.

Doreen and her younger sister Ann Underwood told the Middy that Ron had raised money for Chestnut Tree House, the Air Ambulance, the Royal Air Force, St Peter & St James Hospice, the Royal British Legion and others.

“He worked for the legion every Poppy Day and he used to collect the most money,” said Doreen.

Ron also regularly set up stands in The Martlets in Burgess Hill, where he played music and collected funds.

He played music for St. Francis Social & Sports Club in Haywards Heath too.

A club spokesperson said: “He was a very special treasure to this club and will be greatly missed.”

Ron was born on October 5, 1934, and attended Junction Road School and London Road School in Burgess Hill.

He worked as an errand boy for a Sussex wine merchant and in 1953 he volunteered for the army for a short period.

Ron then worked as a building labourer but was injured in a motorbike accident in 1957 and was hospitalised for seven months.

After his rehabilitation he started to work for the railway.

“He was on the signal box in Burgess Hill for a long time,” said Doreen, adding that Ron retired at age 65 but kept doing charity work until very recently.

After receiving praise from Chestnut Tree House in 2017 Ron said: “I started because I had received so much help from the NHS, and lots of wonderful care for myself, and it is my little way of giving back and saying thank you. I couldn’t do it without the support of the people of Burgess Hill, and visitors to the town from surrounding areas.”

Ron’s page on the Burgess Hill Family Funeral Services' Tribute Garden allows people to make a donation to St Peter & St James Hospice. Visit ronaldhaines.muchloved.com.