LEADING referee Russ Bray has retired from the main stage microphone after three decades on the oche. But did you know his iconic raspy voice was a result of heavy smoking?
Credit: PA
Bray, 66, will officiate the Luke Littler versus Luke Humphries Ally Pally finale and couldn’t be more satisfied with his farewell. Although he will continue as a PDC ambassador and work on the Asian Tour and in World Series events, his days as a UK TV referee are over.
The Voice Behind the 180s
Ask any darts fan about THAT voice, and they will immediately think of Russ Bray and his trademark call of “180.” But what shaped his unique voice? According to Bray, it all began with heavy smoking from a young age.
Bray confessed, “I was born in the ’50s. In the ’60s, everyone smoked. My mum and dad smoked, so did my granddad. Watch an advert on TV, and everyone had a cigarette in their hand. It was fashionable.”
However, Bray made a life-changing decision in 2010, at the age of 53, when he quit smoking. Astonishingly, his iconic voice remained intact even after thirteen years without cigarettes.
“People say you must smoke and drink whiskey. I do neither. Buy me a drink, and it’s vodka.”
An Eventful Journey
Before becoming one of the most popular referees in darts history, Bray had an eventful career. He worked as a policeman in South and East London, where he even served as a motorcycle outrider for Frank Sinatra and participants at a Miss World competition. He once pulled over singer David Essex for speeding in a Rolls Royce Corniche Convertible.
Throughout his life, Bray held various jobs, including delivery driver, scaffolder, and driving instructor. He even represented Essex County as a high jumper in his younger years and out-jumped two-time Olympic decathlon champion Daley Thompson in the ’70s.
The Future of Darts
As Bray reflects on his career, he hopes that technology will not overshadow the tradition of the game in the future. While iPads are used in the ProTour, Bray believes that traditional markers and callers should remain an integral part of the sport. He stated, “You want your traditional marker and traditional callers. I wouldn’t be a fan of technology.”
Credit: Rex
As Bray bids farewell to his role as a referee, he dreams of calling a nine-darter in the Americas, completing his collection of witnessing perfect legs in all four other continents. One thing is for sure, he hopes that the traditions of darts remain intact, preserving the unique charm of the sport.
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