THERE can be few people as much in demand in the community as Ray Harrowing.

A man who says he keeps fit by running from one committee to another, the label ''have shorthand, will travel'' would fit him nicely.

But Ray, as the Wyre Forest arts circle knows, has much more to offer than Pitman's Shorthand and secretarial skills.

He is a dedicated supporter of the arts, a passionate promoter of the talent in Wyre Forest and an experienced choral singer.

Just the man in fact to be involved in the Wyre Forest Arts Partnership, to be secretary of the of the Wyre Forest Arts Forum and prominent committee member of the Kidderminster Choral Society - to name just a few of his commitments.

On these three fronts, Ray has never been busier.

The arts partnership is deep into planning an Arts, Design and Education Centre for Kidderminster. ''We have the people and the organisations but apart from the Rose Theatre, nowhere to go,''he says.

The forum meanwhile is in the throes of mapping out what Ray is confident will be ''the biggest cultural event ever in Wyre Forest'', the seven week Showcase 2000 festival for May and June next year.

This is all happening in a year the choral society celebrates its centenary with a visit from the Theodor Storms Chor from Husum, Germany, and a week of events in June.

An ambitious programme includes Handel's Messiah with 250 singers from the Midlands and a gala concert with Mozart's Requiem.

His curriculum vitae also includes being secretary/treasurer of the Hill Organ Promotion Society, committee member of the Kidderminster-Husum Twinning Association and administration assistant in the Wyre Forest Young Voices choir.

Committee work stems from a background as a chartered secretary and administrator. He worked for Wyre Forest District Council from 1975 until early retirement in 1997.

Now he works from home in Kidderminster as a management consultant.

Aged 59 with two sons and two grandsons, Ray finds time to be a Methodist preacher and for caravan holidays with his wife Penny.

Born and raised in Norfolk as the eldest of six, his musical interests began as a choirboy at school uninterrupted ''because my voice just slipped rather than breaking.'' Later he was to enjoy a spell in St Paul's Cathedral choir.

His ambitions were first to be a newspaper reporter and then a teacher - he trained in London at Westminster Teachers' Training College and Trinity College of Music .

He said: ''Other things took over! I see myself as a spider spinning webs, bringing together people with talents and just helping to make things happen.''