It is with great sadness that the Band have to announce that their Principal Euphonium player, Ray Lomas, passed away on 18th June 2012 after a short illness. He was 70.
Ray joined the band in 1974 having been demobbed from the Tank Regiment. He moved onto Principal Euphonium on his second rehearsal with the band and remained there for the next 38 years except for a brief spell as the Band’s Musical Director, and an even briefer spell when he left to join Uckfield Band.
He was playing until February this year when he suffered what appeared to be a mild stroke. Unfortunately, on admission to hospital, he was diagnosed with cancer which proved terminal.
Ray learned to play Euphonium as a boy in the Salvation Army. He joined the Tank Regiment at the age of 16 as a boy soldier and was a member of the Staff Band, playing Bass (Brass and String), as the Euphonium seats were taken. Despite being in the Tank Regiment he had the distinction of never actually riding in a tank!
As a player, Ray had the most wonderful tone and technical ability and it was a real pleasure listening to his playing. His sense of humour was never too far away, unless of course he was conducting the band, in which case he was a martinet showing minimal tolerance for anyone not fully concentrating on the music – this was a legacy from his military training, especially his time on the bandmaster’s course at the Military School of Music at Kneller Hall.
Ray was well known in Burgess Hill as he was a milkman for most of his working life after the army.
He will be greatly missed by his friends in Mid Sussex Brass Band and also other local bands who he helped out from time to time, as well as all the youngsters that he gave private tuition to over the years.
His funeral will take place on Friday 29th June at the Woodvale Crematorium Lewes Road, Brighton 10.45am.
The Band will be presenting a concert in Ray’s honour on 14th July 2012 in St. John’s Church, Burgess Hill at 7.30pm.
The concert will be open to anyone who knew Ray and who would like to play in the concert. Please contact Paul Homewood – phomewood@msbb.fsnet.co.uk – for further details.