Communities are always stronger when they come together in force, and there could hardly be a greater show of community than is captured in the messages that followed the sad announcement of the death of Ranjit Singh on May 26.
Ranjit’s career spanned estate agency in Luton through to a management position with The Co-operative Group, he was Philanthropy Director at Milton Keynes Community Foundation until September last year when he became Commercial Director at Willen Hospice.
In addition, he was a board member of India Day MK and of MK Gallery, and a co-founder of the Milton Keynes Ethnic Business Community, a network connecting, empowering and raising the profiles of ethnic minority business owners and professionals; and had been a judge in both the Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards and the Milton Keynes Education Awards.
Inevitably, heartfelt messages flooded in from all areas of the business community, and the wider community of Milton Keynes, after the news of Ranjit’s death and, for this special tribute, All Things Business asked many of his friends and colleagues to sum up what one of Milton Keynes leading figures meant to them.
MK Ethnic Business Community
Ranjit stood for social inclusion and held a shared dream for Milton Keynes to become the most inclusive city in the country. He was not only a driving force for Milton Keynes Ethnic Business Community, but also a leader in philanthropy, a trusted business associate, a devoted father, and a true friend to many.
His passing has left a profound void in our lives and in the community he helped to build, shape and nurture with so much love and vision. He not only lifted others with encouragement but also led with quiet strength and generosity.
Ranjit was a gentle giant – selfless, wise and always looking beyond the needs of today. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched and the progress he inspired.
Let us all continue his work. Let us honour his memory by standing for inclusion, by building bridges, and by carrying forward the values he lived so gracefully.
Nicholas Mann, Milton Keynes Business Leaders Partnership
For such a gentle giant, the only ferocity that I ever saw in Ranj was his commitment to fight for fairness and equity in our community; something that he did for many years, with his usual characteristic kindness and aplomb. For the MK Business Achievement Awards he provided a strong and sincere voice on our independent judging panel.
Milton Keynes has been robbed of a gentle, yet powerful influence, an impetus for positive change, and a lovely, loving, all-round good person. Even more importantly, a family has been deprived of a loving and dedicated father and role model. He will be sorely missed by us all.
I hope that he can live on, both in all our hearts, and in our dedication to learn from his kindness and sense of justice, so that we can continue to realise his dream of making Milton Keynes the most inclusive city in the country.
Countess Howe – HM Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire
Ranjit was one of those very special people who had the capacity to light up any room. His warmth and positivity shone through and his compassion and desire to improve the lives of others knew no bounds.
His ability to push aside his own trials and tribulations showed tremendous courage. We have lost a true community champion, and he will be greatly missed.
Meena Chander, Founder MK STEM Awards
I first met Ranjit when he was setting up MK Ethnic Business Community and wanted to get the local ethnic minority community more recognised, encouraging diversity in the mainstream awards locally, which I briefly helped him with.
More recently, he invited me to Willen Hospice Milton Keynes when we spoke about the MK STEM Awards and how diverse and inclusive it was. He was really pleased to see this and came to the event to support me and to encourage all of the other finalists and winners. I took him samosas, which we ate together, chatting about family, Indian culture and life in general.
Cllr Pete Marland, Leader, MK City Council
I first met Ranjit almost 20 years ago when he worked for the Co-op Group, and in all that time not only did he display a passionate commitment to ethical business, philanthropy and tackling inequalities, he put them into action through his work and dedication to make Milton Keynes a better, fairer, place.
He will be hugely missed not only by all those that knew him, but by so many of those that did not but who benefited greatly from his work. He is a massive loss to the business community and social fabric of our city.
Lisa Hathway, Canal and River Trust
Ranjit’s passing really shook me. It had quite a profound impact on me. More than I’d expected.
He always had time for me. He always responded. Always connected. He gave the biggest hug and he had no hierarchy. He didn’t care what you had or what you didn’t have. He never asked for anything. I never felt I wasn’t important or useful enough.
He gave the most precious thing and that was his time.
He promised to get his face glittered with me at the IWD event. But either the woman wasn’t available, he’d disappear, or I’d be somewhere else. It was like a Carry On film. I got mine done and bought some glitter and said I was coming after him armed with glitter.
It remains unopened.
Folk like Ranj are rare. I had a lot of time for him.
Amanda Wright, Yellowyoyo
Bryan and I visited Ranjit in hospital regularly in his last weeks. His positive attitude, despite being so ill, was typical of his warrior spirit, as was the fact that he seemed humbled and genuinely surprised at the fact that he had so many visitors.
His passion to bring people together, to build inclusivity and respect into our communities is, I believe, what we should celebrate and continue as part of his legacy.
Ranjit was a beautiful friend and force for good who I, like so many, will sorely miss.
Gamiel Yafai, Diversity Marketplace
I’ve always said that the key to success in business and in life is to surround yourself with good, genuine, honest people. We have lost one of those rare souls – Ranjit Singh.
The unprecedented outpouring of love, gratitude and tributes on social media speaks volumes about the extraordinary impact he had on our lives and community, though I can picture Ranjit looking down on us all and saying, “What’s all the fuss about?” – never seeing himself as special, just doing what he felt any good human being should do.
Ranjit was one of the kindest, most humble and selfless people I’ve ever had the privilege to know. A true unsung hero. He dedicated his life to lifting others up, with an unwavering vision to make Milton Keynes the most inclusive city in the UK.
As a fellow co-founder of the MK Ethnic Business Community, Ranjit worked tirelessly to level the playing field and create opportunities for ethnic businesses to thrive. We shared so much fun, laughter and tears together. He was more than a colleague – he was a brother and friend whose legacy will live on in all the lives he touched.
The best way we can honour Ranjit’s memory is by continuing his work and making his vision of an inclusive Milton Keynes a reality. Let’s carry forward his spirit of service and commitment to community.
My friend, my brother – you will be in my heart and the hearts of so many others forever. Rest in peace, Ranjit. You will never be forgotten.
Jason Sinclair, Profile Resourcing Limited
Ranjit was my passionate, resilient and cheeky friend! I use those three words because that flowed through all our interactions since we first met back in 2013. He was intensely passionate about his friends, family, work, his communities, his city! He truly wanted the best for everyone.
He had more than his fair share of challenges and handled all of them with determination and resilience. He wouldn’t allow anything to hold him back from a decision or path he had chosen to enact.
He was cheeky! I loved his sense of humour. We spent so much time giggling at the MKCF offices, Willen, MKEBC events, awards finals, our catch ups at various restaurants all over the place or upstairs at Treat Street! Ranjit was authentically Ranjit 100% of the time, and I will dearly miss having my friend around!
Shazna Muzammil-Cook, Group Leader Milton Keynes Conservatives
Ranjit was not only a resident of mine, he was a friend, he was my mentor, and he was someone whose wisdom and dedication shaped so much of what we know and love about the Milton Keynes Community Foundation and Willen.
I admired him deeply, not just for his tireless work but for the incredible strength and resilience he showed throughout his life.
When he lost his leg, he didn’t just face the physical pain – he showed us all what true strength looks like. When I asked him about it before he went for surgery, he was chirpy. This man who was about to lose a leg, and he was telling me he was really fine with it. I feel like the world is about to come crashing down before going for a haircut because I’m not sure what it’s going to turn out to be!
Then, when I went to see him at the Community Foundation, this giant man in a wheelchair, now half his size, was navigating his wheelchair like a pro. Well, I say pro, but there were a few bumps on the tables, but always with a smile on his face.
How can one remain so positive about everything? How can you be so big in your heart that you can park your problems to help others?
And then he was walking, standing tall again. Ranjit never allowed life’s hurdles to slow him down. There’s a lesson in how he lived his life for everyone.
It’s with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to Ranjit Singh, a man whose impact on our community and on me, personally cannot be put into words. There was never a hint of self-pity or a desire for sympathy. Ranjit approached every challenge with grace, quiet determination, and a spirit that refused to be broken. His resolve to keep doing good, no matter the struggles he faced, is something I will always carry with me.
I honestly believed he would fight through this, just as he had fought before. But the world is poorer for having lost him, and Milton Keynes has lost one of its finest.
Ranjit’s legacy of kindness, community spirit and quiet strength will live on in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know him.
Rest easy, Ranjit. You are a good man, my dear friend, and you will be missed more than words can express.
Laxman Kastala BEM, Founder & Chair DREAMSAI
Like many in Milton Keynes, I have lost my best friend, Ranjit Singh, a true warrior of life. The name Ranjit means ‘warrior’ in Punjabi, and he embodied that spirit every day.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have spent so many precious hours with him during his last few weeks, learning valuable life lessons. Despite the challenges he faced, he was the most resilient person I have ever known. He approached life with remarkable bravery, fully aware of what was coming, yet he lived each day to the fullest, embracing happiness until the very end. His illness never touched his mind – a rare and inspiring strength.
Ranjit never wore a mask. He was always his true, authentic self. His honesty and openness were part of what made him so special. What you saw was what you got – no pretensions, just pure sincerity.
We often speak about work-life balance, but for Ranjit, life was about working for others. While many of us work to live, he lived through his work. He always said he was lucky to be paid to follow his passion, a sentiment that’s rare and special.
Ranjit was not just a friend; he was a brother to many of us. A towering figure in the community, he took a page out of his father’s book in championing community causes for the greater good, and he took it even further. He truly embodied the essence of a servant leader.
He was a visionary who saw beyond race and colour – a true champion of inclusivity, he worked alongside everyone with the same genuine care and respect for all.
Ranjit, my friend, my brother – we celebrate your life, not grieve. You were a warrior, and your legacy will live on in the many lives you touched.
Amanda Marlow, former Mayor of Milton Keynes
Ranjit was resilient and always positive and fought hard for what he believed in. He co-founded the MK Ethnic Business Leaders because he felt there wasn’t a place for people of diverse ethnic backgrounds.
He had such a presence.
One of my favourite memories is going toe-to-toe with him when we were judges in the MKBAAs. He had his views and I had mine, and we were going backwards and forwards with our arguments as to which great cause should win the Celebrating Diversity award. He fought so hard for what he believed in, until, eventually, Jason Sinclair just threw his hands up and said OK you’ve both convinced me, let’s give them both an award!
Ian Revell, CEO MK Community Foundation
Ranjit worked at the Community Foundation for over eight years and we have all missed his presence since his move to the wonderful Willen Hospice. Throughout his time at the Foundation he impacted thousands of lives through his work in and then leading the Philanthropy Team, including his team, his colleagues and the charity groups he supported.
During those eight years he supported hundreds of groups in successfully applying for grants and was a key support to some of the most significant charities and community groups across the city. His legacy to the sector and to our city is immense.
Whilst there are numerous highlights, the work he did to set up the MK Ethnic Business Community, which was to champion Ethnic Business Leaders and to encourage their philanthropy was particularly remarkable. He also recognised that we needed to attract donors from all the diverse communities across MK, so that more groups from those diverse communities could successfully gain funding and to ensure that the issues donors addressed address the needs of all the communities in our city.
On top of all this, he became a trustee of many groups including MK Gallery and MK India Day, as well as advising and supporting many community leaders to become more effective and more focused on responding to need. This is why he is so loved and respected.
All of his work was significant, but that it doesn’t explain why he was so successful and why he changed so many people’s lives for the better. He did this because of who he was. A brilliantly funny, kind and caring man. A man who focused on the individual and supported all he worked with. It is significant that he remained in close contact with former colleagues, and had such a vast diverse and strong network.
Ranjit’s bravery in facing his health challenges and his eternal optimism and positive outlook of life inspired so many of us and changed so many people’s lives for the better.
I’ve always thought that the attributes of a good life are ones where you live life to the full, love to the full and leave a positive legacyand Ranjit excelled at all three!
Ranjit’s loss is profound, especially to his family and his closest friends, however when I think about Ranjit, I smile, I feel his warmth and I am inspired and in awe of what he has achieved. Ranjit, a wonderful man and a huge loss to us all.
Kate Broadhurst, CEO, Willen Hospice
Ranjit was a true servant leader that led authentically; his kindness, compassion and humour combined with his desire to connect others, through celebrating difference, has left a lasting impact on all of us at Willen. We feel so grateful that he chose to join our team, a place where he shared that he felt he ‘truly belonged’ and is now deeply missed.
On a personal level we shared a deep friendship, he introduced me to so many others, including his family, that, like him, just want to make the world a better place.
He also solidified for me that by living life, aligned with your values and what really matters, brings deep joy and satisfaction – and that this is worth so much more than our traditional views of what success looks like or what we need to be happy.
I will treasure my time with him and continue to champion, with others, his true purpose, which was to create a truly inclusive city in Milton Keynes.
Jennifer Walker, Chair MK & Northants YMCA
Ranjit and I first met working together at the MK Community Foundation. We had such fun in the office and often went for lunch and after work drinks.
Ranjit loved his work. He loved life, his family, especially, of course, his children who he was so incredibly proud of, his friends and his community.
Even as we both moved on to roles at different organisations, we stayed friends and one of my fondest memories is when he and his family came for a meal at my house with my family, dogs and all, and the chaos that ensued!
Over the years, Ranj and I would often meet for a coffee, talk life through, catch up on news, discuss challenges and opportunities – a sort of informal mentoring through life but always fun. Ranjit had the best smile and welcoming presence – the kind that would always put you at ease in his company and at the various networking events we would attend.
Ranjit gave to others. He thought about others. He embodied kindness, tolerance, patience and respect. This gave him a dignity and humility that I will remember and that inspire me.
Ranj is well remembered for his contributions to inclusion in the Milton Keynes and I would like to think we will all work towards his dream of making MK the most inclusive city. His funeral, although sad, was a real reflection of the diverse community that he built around him and in supporting and connecting others. Everyone has their own stories to tell and knew Ranjit in different ways, but common themes in memories of him are his giant kind presence and his commitment to community.
For me, I will always remember his smile, his time and the laughs we shared together. Ranjit’s daughter, son and brother spoke so bravely at his funeral, comforting those that attended and sharing their memories. His daughter, Jujhar, spoke in such a powerful moving way about ‘energy’ and how it can transcend times, worlds and places.
She asked us all to believe that Ranj is still with us in his energy around us and I can see this in the community, networks, connections, projects and friendships he built.
Lal Tawney, Whitecap Consulting
Remembering Ranjit: my friend, the funny one.
It’s hard to put into words what Ranjit Singh meant to so many of us, but I want to share something about my relationship with Ranjit. Not just the passionate community leader, the tireless advocate, or the humble changemaker – he was all of those and more. To me, Ranjit was a wonderful friend. The one with the wicked sense of humour.
Ranjit had this wonderful ability to make you feel completely at ease, quite often starting with a joke, a cheeky grin, or the two of us slipping effortlessly into characters from Goodness Gracious Me. It became our thing. Those shared moments of laughter were what deepened our friendship and made it truly special.
Behind the scenes of his public service and community work was a man who loved to laugh, to gently mock life’s absurdities, and to lift people up not just with action, but with joy. He didn’t take himself too seriously, and that’s what made him so disarming, so warm and so unforgettable.
The last time I saw him was on his 52nd birthday a few days before he passed away. There were laughs and warmth, exactly the way I’ll always remember him.
Ranjit had a gift for connection. He brought people together, not just through causes, but through kindness, humour and that twinkle in his eye that said, “Let’s not take the world too seriously.”
He was deeply loved and respected as so many tributes have shown, but I’ll always treasure the side of him that made me laugh and reminded me that friendship is about joy.
Thank you, Ranj, for the light you brought us and the laughter.
