Russell was born in Colchester maternity home on 2nd January 1969, the second son to David and Sarah Rayner, and Adam’s younger brother by 2 years.
At age 4 he started school at St Andrews Primary, a short walk away through Bois Hall Gardens. Later he moved up to  Ramsey Comprehensive School, he that found he could excel at the practical subjects rather than the more academic ones, it was no surprise he could be found in the woodworking room more often than not.


After school he started working with his Father and his Uncle Malcolm, which is where he effectively served his apprenticeship in carpentry. Russell then branched out on his own completing all manner of works in the building trade around Essex and further afield. Many people commented on his very traditional approach to carpentry and were impressed by his talent. 


When in his teens Russell took it upon himself to decorate his own bedroom - Matt black walls, red gloss woodwork and a hand drawn character from the weetabix advert on the cupboard door!


During 1996 he married his first wife Melanie, and later that year welcomed his first daughter Emily. Emily was joined 3 years later by his second daughter Alice.
Unfortunately, the marriage did not last, and Russell moved away. 


He later married his second wife Kathleen. They bought a house in Black Notley and set about renovating it. He spent a lot of his spare time making that house a home for them both. Emily and Alice would come to stay at weekends, Russell enjoyed spending time with the girls, making them pancakes for breakfast, dancing together in the kitchen and having bowling tournaments on the wii. Emily and Alice have fond memories of time spent during summer in the garden of Black Notley helping with gardening, picking blackberries off of the bushes to make a crumble to enjoy with a roast dinner or enjoying one of their Dads BBQ’s followed by karaoke in the summer house on the sing-star. 


Unfortunately financial pressures lead them to selling the house in Notley and moving closer to Russell’s parents, renting a house in Bois Hall Gardens. This did not save the marriage and they eventually divorced.


Russell is also survived by his 6 year old son Freddie.


Shortly before his death, Russell’s older daughter, Emily gave birth to his first Grand-daughter, Bonnie, who is with us today. 


Russell took a keen interest in music he had many favourite songs that he would play on repeat. He learnt to play the drums, and even took over from the resident band drummer at his wedding reception. Russell watched the video back of him drumming along to Brown Sugar by the Rolling Stones so much that it eventually became a song that lulled an infant Emily to sleep.


Russell was very proud of his good crop of hair and often joked that he was couldn’t wait for it to go silver like Phillip Scofield. You never could be sure however that after a trip to the hairdressers, he wouldn’t be sporting a freshly dyed red streak through it.


Despite many fond memories it is fair to say that Russ had his demons and an addictive nature that caused a lot of heartache, hopefully now he is resting in peace.