22/12/2023 8comments  |  Jump to last

Everton have announced the death of Lily Barnes at the age of 79  after a short illness. Lily was a much-loved stadium tour guide.

Lily touched thousands of lives in the years since she took on the role, as she developed the Blues’ Stadium Tour into one of the most personable in the Premier League.

 

Quotes sourced from EvertonFC.com

Reader Comments (8)

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Peter Mills
1 Posted 22/12/2023 at 16:57:55
I have just read the sad news that Lily Barnes has passed away. She will be familiar to many as the face of Goodison Park, a tour guide, who also worked providing hospitality in the lounges in the Main Stand, a great character and a huge Evertonian - sincere condolences to her family and friends.

Many thanks to Lyndon and Michael for all their efforts throughout the year, best wishes to them and to everyone who posts on here or who just reads.

Ian Edwards
2 Posted 22/12/2023 at 17:22:39
Just wanted to pay tribute to Lily Barnes. She was the tour guide when I went in May.

She was passionate and knowledgeable, as was Dave Wiggins, who was also guide that day. Really awful that both who were so full of life that day are no longer with us. It makes you realise how much we should grasp each day.

I've been worn down by stress of work the last few months but, fuck, it's made me realise some things are more important than work. Best wishes to Lily's and Dave's families if they see this.

Danny O’Neill
3 Posted 22/12/2023 at 17:51:08
I didn't meet Lily Barnes but it sounds like she was a fine servant to the club. Let's hope they put on a fitting tribute at the next home match.
Brian Harrison
4 Posted 22/12/2023 at 19:27:49
A couple of months ago, I went on the stadium tour with my Grandson. But a couple of hours ago the club issued a statement saying Lily Barnes, who led the tour that day, had died.

A lovely lady who was a great Evertonian and it's people like Lily that make our club so special.

Rest in Peace, Lily.

Michael Kenrick
5 Posted 22/12/2023 at 19:28:36
There's also a nice article in The Echo:

Everton announce passing of long-serving tour guide with 'encyclopaedic' knowledge of Goodison Park

Gerry Quinn
7 Posted 23/12/2023 at 08:30:41
Sad news again but I am sure she will be well remembered in Memoriam at the Bramley-Moore Dock walkway of names...

Much-loved Goodison Park tour guide Lily Barnes has passed away following a short battle with illness, Everton have announced.

The 79-year-old started working at Goodison Park in 1979 doing casual hospitality work before later undertaking a variety of roles with the Blues.

In more recent years, Mrs Barnes worked alongside her granddaughter Ellie and provided extensive knowledge to Blues supporters visiting Goodison Park as part of the club's stadium tour package.

Gerry Quinn
8 Posted 23/12/2023 at 08:49:33
What a fabulous love and devotion she had for the club... RIP, Lily, I am sure that you will tell all of the Angels about Everton.

Michael & Lyndon – best wishes for Christmas and thanks for all you do.

Matt Traynor
9 Posted 27/12/2023 at 13:23:35
Really sad to read. When I was 18-19, I used to work in one of the lounges as a silver service waiter. My mum, aunties, cousins all did. They did Anfield as well - I never did. Travel home from Uni every other Saturday. You soon got to meet everyone at the club, and if they knew you were a blue, you were treated like family.

Fast forward to 2007 and I'm sat in a bar in Singapore, after work, reading about the Aussie team coming to do a 10 day training camp.

I borrowed the landlord's laptop, and emailing them, saying "you won't remember me from 1990-91 but " Landlord says "no chance...". Within 15 minutes I got an email back, saying we do remember you, we've spoken to Tim, and he's doing it, but please ask the Aussie Football Federation first. They said no chance, Tim said he absolutely was doing it, and over 100 fans from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Kirkdale got to spend an evening with him.

RIP Lily and Dave.

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