New garden room helps motor neurone sufferer Ray stay in his Mancot home

A former postman struck down by motor neurone disease has been helped to stay in his home, thanks to his MP and Flintshire building firm Rubicon.

Ray Gudger from Mancot has extremely limited movement due to the debilitating disease that attacks his muscles – the same as the one that affects Professor Stephen Hawking – and uses a ventilator every night to keep him breathing.

His wife Josie could no longer safely get the 68-year-old upstairs at their family home, a three-bed semi owned by Flintshire Council. 

Instead the couple faced having to turn the lounge into his bedroom – leaving just the small kitchen free as living space – or moving to another property on the far side of the county.

After turning to Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami for help, Ray and Josie were able to use a Welsh Assembly grant to have an extension built by Rubicon Garden Rooms, based on Deeside.

More often used for home offices, sun rooms, music studios and teenage dens, Rubicon’s zero-maintenance modular buildings are manufactured at its factory in Queensferry and quickly installed.

They are made from a wood fibre composite material devised by founder John Lyon, who was inspired by his 20 years as an engineer at Airbus.

Josie said: “Rubicon’s extension been fantastic, and it has really changed Ray’s life. It’s very warm as it’s fully insulated, light and comfortable – it is easy to after.

“We can get Ray in and out of bed and into his wheelchair much more easily, and it means that he has somewhere to go that’s his, for some quiet time.

“He loves sitting by the big window watching the birds and wildlife, or enjoying the views of the garden. It’s meant that we didn’t have to move – I have lived in Mancot all my life, and couldn’t face moving away from family and friends, who have been so supportive.”

Rubicon managing director John Lyon was delighted to be able to help Ray and Josie have the temporary extension fitted to their home.

“The building is factory built and made into pre-fabricated pieces, so they slot together very easily and quickly. Also, as it is classed as a temporary construction that can be taken away, it often doesn’t need planning permission and so is popular with people who need extra space very quickly at an economic price.

“We are more used to installing our buildings in people’s gardens as an annexe for an older family member, or to create a bespoke home office, music or art studio or a den for teenagers.

Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami said: “People don’t always realise that they can extend their home when a situation like this happens. However, my team is aware of what grants are available, and so we were able to advise Ray and Josie of the way forward.

“Obviously, it was much better for them to stay in Mancot, with their support network around them, rather than move miles away.

“I am also delighted that Rubicon, as a local company, has been able to provide the extension that Ray and Josie needed, with the minimum of disruption. The room looks lovely and warm, and I can see that it has made a big change to Ray’s quality of life.”