My husband, Ray Krist, who has died aged 75, was an independent film-maker whose career flourished from the 1960s onwards.
Born during the second world war in Mill Hill, north London, to Doris, a housekeeper, and Harry Christ, a lens grinder, Ray was the youngest in a large family. He showed an early interest in film, encouraged by one of his teachers, and after leaving school he successfully applied for an apprenticeship at the national TV broadcaster Associated-Rediffusion, eventually becoming a senior editor. In his early 20s he started to make his own films on a modest scale and continued to produce, direct and edit his work throughout his career so that he could maintain high standards.
We met at a party in 1962 and married in 1966, later changing our last name to Krist. In 1968 Ray became a self-employed film-maker across a broad spectrum of subjects, ranging from travel and holidays to medicine, agriculture, glass production and industry, and for government institutions such as the navy for training purposes. He established his company, Idea Films, in the 1970s, the acronym standing for industry, development, education and advertising.
Later, he specialised in health and safety training films for the major oil and gas companies such as BP and Shell, and excelled at recreating accidents and hazards at work (safely). This series of films contributed to raising awareness about safety in the workplace, often employing a light touch to drive home a serious point. Ray overcame obstacles with suitable persuasion, originality of ideas and hard work, his output spanning the evolution of commercial film into the digital age. Based at our home in Wherwell, Hampshire, Ray was within reach of various studios.
His friends and I knew Ray as an outgoing and cheerful person, with a twinkle in his blue eyes, a keen gym-goer, dog lover, walker, traveller, cook and hard-to-please coffee connoisseur. He enjoyed his voluntary work delivering books to housebound people for the Home Library Service, and patiently supported me over many years in my work as a family court adviser and academic researcher.
He is survived by me, by two sisters, Cissie and Mary, a brother, Ron, and seven nieces and four nephews.
