Raymond Ernest Lumley 1947-2020
Ray was a Brentford FC man through and through. Born in Chiswick he was a season ticket holder for over 40 years and went to every game he could home or away. He had booked his seat in the new stadium. Through the good and bad times, he was immensely proud to be a Bees supporter and could often be seen wearing his Brentford shirt when on holiday abroad. His hope – shared with all Bees fans – was that the new stadium will see Premier League football.
It is safe to say that Ray was a man literally with distinctive features having suffered an accident at birth but this never got in the way of a very full and active life, especially in the field of sports where he played rugby to a decent standard, with honours for his school and the county, culminating in training with the England schoolboys. He was a bandit at golf, winning more than his fair share of club trophies and society events.
As a person, Ray was a most generous man and one could recount many kind deeds. His sense of humour could be best described as “wicked” and he always had a joke or a quip on hand and quite frankly could be a real sarcastic so and so.
Career wise he became a highly skilled engineer, completing his apprenticeship at the Trico factory on the Great West Road, which he crossed some years later to become a maintenance engineer at Booth’s Gin. In 1983 he joined British Telecom during the technological boom of the 80’s, where he remained employed until his passing in April this year, after 37 years’ service.
Ray Lumley with colleagues at BT.
Steve Masters, a colleague at what is now Openreach and where Ray still worked in a full time role said: “He was a part of my team of 20 people and one of the most dedicated, hardworking and dependable people I have had the pleasure to know and work with. His colleagues, both in our own team and the wider building too, are devastated that we have lost him and his passing has hit everyone hard.”
Apart from Ray’s passion for Brentford he is survived by his other passion in long-term and 30-year devoted partner, Dionne, to whom we pass on our deepest sympathies.
His Bees United number of 4614 will now be retired.
All who knew Ray will miss him. Rest in peace.
John R. Scott
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