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Last week our dear CEO, colleague and friend, Ray Lewis, was laid to rest.

On Wednesday morning at the City of London cemetery, under the glorious beams of sunshine, family and close friends bid farewell to Ray for the last time.

Notably the venue of the funeral was only a short drive from Bignold Hall, where for many years Ray had made it his life’s work to lift young people up from their disadvantage. On a blossoming spring day, it was his turn to be lifted up upon the shoulders of those that loved him, as he made his last journey here on earth. The service that followed was a solemn time of prayer, singing, tributes, reflection and silence. It was an honour to be given the opportunity to share my own tribute to the man I owe so much to.

Later that afternoon many more gathered at Willesden to join the memorial service, held at The New Testament Church of God. The diversity of those in attendance was a testament to the man himself. Many from various circles of society, from a wide spectrum of backgrounds, reflected the sheer array of individuals that Ray interacted with through his colourful life. The man of the people, was now to be celebrated by his people. Unlike the appropriate sombre nature of the proceedings in the morning, the afternoon service was alive with rapturous joyful singing, belly-laughs aplenty and shared appreciation, as we sought to transition together from grief to gratitude. Giving thanks for the privilege of knowing Ray.

Friends, while events of Wednesday 8th May are now to be treasured in our memory banks for a lifetime, we must now capture and bring together all of the shared emotion and energy we have poured out since the day of our dear friend’s passing. We must now more than ever come together with a shared common purpose in his name. We honour Ray’s life’s work not only on the day of his funeral, but we honour him by working together to ensure that Eastside continues to exist to provide opportunity, inspiration and leadership for the young people in our broken society who Ray lived to serve. It’s our duty as members of the Eastside family to play our role. It’s our duty in honour of Ray’s legacy.

Such was his gift to become all things to all people that all who were recipients of his friendship would be minded to think that their bond with Ray was particularly special and none like he had with others. While we may not possess such a unique gift, what we do have are the lessons and learnings from our personal relationships with him.

Whatever good that Ray taught you, teach others. Whatever support that Ray showed you, show others. And however Ray championed you, champion others.

David Ejim-McCubbin
Chair of Trustees, EYLA