SUNSHINE bathed a packed Redditch Crematorium for a celebration of the life of former town MP Karen Lumley.
The mother-of-two passed away in May at the age of 59 and her life was marked in a ceremony conducted by the Rev Robin Baker on Friday (June 23).
Conservative MPs from Worcestershire and further afield and dignitaries from across the town were among those to pay their respects to ‘one of life’s individuals’ whose hair ‘was as bright as her character’.
After her wicker coffin was carried into the chapel by six pallbearers to the sounds of the Welsh rugby anthem Calon Lan, Rev Baker spoke of his friendship with Mrs Lumley and said ‘she listened and she cared’.
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The packed chapel, which included current MPs Sajid Javid, Harriett Baldwin and Mark Garnier as well as the likes of former Bromsgrove MP Julie Kirkbride, former Meriden MP Dame Caroline Spelman and former Culture Secretary Baroness Morgan, sung rousing hymn ‘I Vow to Thee My Country’.
In addition to remembering her life as Redditch’s MP, the service also reflected on Mrs Lumley’s Welsh roots with a tribute from best friend Denise Heard who lauded her ‘infectious laugh and positive attitude to life’.
“Karen was fun, but also the one to turn to for advice,” she said.
“When I needed a friend, I had Karen.
After sharing the story of being asked by Mrs Lumley to read a poem at her funeral – but her not specifying which poem – to much laughter, Mrs Heard delivered an emotional reading of a David Harkins poem and was met with warm applause.
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Local Conservative Tessa Gillespie delivered her own emotive tribute to the former MP which included the time on the campaign trail she was mistaken for Mrs Lumley’s mother.
Sal Dunstan, deputy headteacher of The Vaynor First School where Mrs Lumley was chair of governors for 13 years said her passion and enthusiasm ‘made a real difference to the education of our children’.
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Stuart Andrew, MP for Pudsey, shared stories of campaigning with Mrs Lumley in Wrexham, of their friendship and shared a tribute from a fellow MP who said she was ‘a ray of colour in a mass of grey suits’.
Daughter Lizzie Webb shared tales of growing up in Wales and life in Redditch and the support and advice given to her by her mother.
After an emotional speech, she said: “Mum, the way you lived your life will continue to inform the way I live mine.”
After a visual tribute of photos from her life set to music and a moving address and committal from Rev Brady, Mrs Lumley’s coffin was lowered from view adorned with flowers from husband Richard, Lizzie and son Chris.
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Those in the chapel then filed out to the sounds of the Tina Turner anthem ‘The Best’ sung by Scala and the Kolacny Brothers.
Donations can be made to the Oasis Christian Centre in her memory.
