Gray, Maximilian Barre Western Gray (1905-1991), medical doctor and Christian missionary

Born in Barnsley, Yorkshire

Admitted to Magdalene College

1931
sailed for China to serve with the China Inland Mission and spent the next few years primarily in Szechwan, West China, working in various hospitals and in outlaying towns and villages

1940
married Irene Walker (another CIM missionary) at Yingshan, Szechwan

1944
their first child (they had four in total) was born in China and soon after Irene and her son were forced to leave China for India because of the national unrest. Max later joined them and they all returned to the UK. In 1946 Frank and Irene returned to China to carry on their work.

1948
Missionary work in China became increasingly difficult due the rise of Communism and in 1951 the CIM recalled all missionaries from China.
This journey was extremely difficult and fraught with danger - at one point Max was arrested at gun point and taken away. He returned some time later and was then held under room imprisonment until they could continue the journey to Hong Kong and then back to England.

Max and Irene later spent time working in Malaya returning when Max needed surgery. They then settled in England whilst he recovered by starting two part time roles in GP practices. He supplied Bible reading notes and Christian books and newspapers to patients. Irene became heavily involved in the Reading Chinese Christian Fellowship.

c. 1980
Max retired from active medical service but continued his mission work through letter writing

1991
Max died in Reading

1999
Irene died

From a time line supplied along with the letters and photos by Julian Bull