Raj came to UK in 1968 to study and went on to graduate in Civil Engineering from Hatfield Polytechnic. He worked for consultants for a few years before moving on to work for the Greater London Council, where he put his skills to use on major roads and structures including the M25, A4, Malden Underpass and later the Thames Barrier. He also worked at Harrow Council for a while and eventually went on to work for Canterbury City Council as a Senior Structural Engineer. Raj obtained his MSc in structural Engineering at Kingston University.
Raj’s main expertise is bridges and buildings. While he was at Canterbury City Council he looked after Council owned properties including the bridges across the River Stour; he has advised other Councils in East Kent about these and about coastal defence works. As a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health, Raj was also a health and safety auditor and advisor for the Council.
He and his wife have lived in Bridge since 1988 and never looked back. They have a son and a daughter who both work in London. Raj and his wife Rajini take part in many village activities and are keen gardeners and hikers. Raj retired in April 2017 after a long spell in local government.