Cemetery has funds boost in last week
THE British Cemetery Committee has seen its funds boosted by nearly 4,000TL during the past week, to be used for improvements at the GreenHill Cemetery it maintains above Karaoğlanoğlu.
The latest donation of 2,000TL was presented on Wednesday at the Deli Café in Alsancak, where owners Gary and Rebecca Hughes had donated to the cause 1TL from every cup of coffee sold during September and October.
Mr Hughes said the couple had been inspired to donate by the help they received from cemetery committee honorary president Harry Fellows after their daughter had two stillbirths.
He said: “That was when I realised that a lot of the people do things for all sorts of charities, from animals to cancer, but nobody really does anything for these volunteers who run the cemetery and they do need the money. They were very humble and quite overwhelmed by the support, which we will continue to give.”
Deputy chairman of the committee Christine Penney said: “We can make use of this wonderful donation for the improvements we are trying to make at the cemetery to make it more comfortable for visitors.”
Mr Fellows, who accepted the donation along with the chairman Simon Trimble and Mrs Penney, thanked the Hugheses and asked them to pass the committee’s gratitude on to their customers. He said further development at the cemetery could only be achieved through donations such as this, as the committee was totally dependent on funeral charges and contributions from supporters.
The Hugheses’ donation followed one from dedicated charity fundraiser Margaret Keenan last Friday as she said farewell to some 60 friends — and made final donations to two good causes — before leaving her Esentepe home of 13 years and returning to the UK.
A farewell gathering at Çatalköy’s The Lodge saw Mrs Keenan present cheques for 1,800TL each to the British Cemetery Committee and to the North Cyprus Cancer Charity Trust (NCCCT), which she had been supporting for many years. Mrs Keenan raised funds for various charities during weekly bingo sessions at The Lodge in the three years that she ran them. The sessions, however, will continue to help fund TRNC charities under Judith Selby and Linda Docherty.
“It was a very nice but very emotional night,” said Mrs Keenan.
“I was presented with beautiful gifts by the bingo team as farewell presents and it was great to have everyone together at the same time. I hope to see them all again when I return for holidays.”
NCCCT chairman Wendy Anderson thanked Mrs Keenan for her support over the years in the fight against cancer in the TRNC.
Cemetery Committee head Simon Trimble was also thankful, saying Mrs Keenan and her team were among those who understood that the committee depended on continuous donations for its work.