The Gentleman Salesman - Roy Deeming

It is with deep regret we announce the passing of Roy Deeming who played a pivotal role in the amusement industry for over 60 years.

Roy passed away after a short illness in the Stroke Unit, at Bournemouth Royal Hospital on 8 July 2023, and his funeral will be held on 27 July 2023 at Bournemouth Crematorium.

“Roy started his career with Ainsworth (which became Aristocrat) where he travelled the globe, he also worked with Tony Lynch at Coinmaster, Danny Horler at Auto Roulette and for many years he worked with Reg and David Morosoli at DMD,” says Joyce Todd. “Following DMD, he joined Crown Leisure at it was then for a few years and finally ended his career with RLMS, who he joined due to Reg Morosoli. He might have ended his working career in the industry but he still attended shows and went out with ex-colleagues for meals, with whom he kept in touch.”

“He loved to travel and when his job entailed this he was in his element, apart from when he went to Moscow with Reg Morosoli and it was so cold he said it froze your breath, he was glad to get back to the UK!” she adds.

David Morosoli kindly shared his memories of Roy. “I can't remember when I first met Roy - whenever it was – I didn't get to "know" him until he came to work for Direct Machine Distributors.  DMD was a family firm and Roy immediately became part of that family, the relationship far exceeding the conventional parameters of employment. 

“First and foremost, Roy was married to his work to the exclusion of everything else; he once told me that he always kept a packed suitcase by the front door of his home, just in case he suddenly received a call to travel in pursuit of business.  His attitude to selling product was summed up by his mantra that the toughest sale any salesman could make was to himself.  Roy was good at selling an idea to himself and armed with absolute belief in a product he loved nothing more than travelling the country for days at a time and returning with a full order book. 

“His positive outlook seemingly knew no bounds; on more than one occasion he would remark that he'd had a meeting with an unwilling client who told him in no uncertain terms to go away and never darken his door again.  Roy's stock response was to say that "that's when I knew I had him!"  Usually, he was correct in his assumption.  Roy was part of a now lost breed of industry professionals; the industry may have changed and no longer be a place for someone like him to thrive but it is all the poorer for that.  Roy was one of the best and, more importantly, someone I was proud to call my friend.  I miss him greatly, as will many others.”

David’s brother Reg Morosoli echoes his thoughts. “I thought the world of Roy, we were very close. He was one of the greatest sales people ever in the coin-op business.”

Bob Hepworth said of his friend, “I have known Roy for as long as I can remember in the industry.

I always looked forward to catch ups at the shows and of course a pint or two of Guinness in Dublin. I missed him at the shows over the past couple of years. Of course I will miss him now but never forget him.If the Oxford dictionary had an alternative word for Gentleman it would be Roy Deeming!”

Johathan Lauder of UDC says, “He was always a very sweet gentleman old school salesman. He will be missed.”

He was always the perfect gentleman and a pleasure to work with,” Ron Vinson of AMS.

Funeral Details:

13.30 in The East Chapel, Bournemouth Crematorium,

Strouden Avenue, Bournemouth BH8 9HX.

All are welcome to attend the funeral but request family flowers only with donations to be collected at the funeral for the Stroke Unit, Royal Bournemouth Hospital

There will be a live webcast of Roy's funeral on the day and this will be available for 28 days following it and below is the link for this.

https://watch.obitus.com

Username  tugi7042

Password   089272

Details of the venue for the celebration of Roy's life after the funeral are to follow.

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12 July 2023

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