Derek Gumm, RIP.
It is with very deep sadness that I have to announce that the man who founded our club 51 years ago, Derek Gumm, sadly died today. His son informed me a short while ago.
I have passed on our deepest condolences to his family and friends on behalf of the Ruislip Rangers family and I have been invited to attend the funeral to represent the Club.
Ruislip Rangers was a huge part of Derek’s life. He was a special, special man. I will never forget the time I spent with him last year during the process of writing the book about the history of our club. It’s no exaggeration to say that meeting him and talking to him was a huge highlight for me.
Some of you may have met him at our 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner & Dance. His presence there was part of what made the event so special. He lit up the room with his stories and his personality.
I am just so pleased that I was able to track him down last year so that his stories could be told and that he got to be at our 50th Anniversary celebrations. He was able to see what he started from such humble beginnings has become today.
I have spoken to the his son, Mark, about doing something to honour Derek permanently at Ruislip Rangers in some way. The Club would not be here today without him. We have talked in terms of perhaps having a plaque at our new Clubhouse and maybe even naming a room after him.
That is for the future, but in the short-term, we will have a minute’s silence for Derek before the first game of the 2020/21 season.
The featured photo is from our 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner & Dance where Derek was honoured.
If you would like to see Derek’s speech at our 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Dance, here is a link: https://youtu.be/ABLmo7RD-i4?t=809
If you would like to buy our book and hear the story of how Derek founded the club, here is a link: http://ruisliprangersyfc.org.uk/our-50th-anniversary-book/
Steve Roche, Club Secretary