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All the bath bombs and lolly bags for the Christmas Fair were handmade by us from pure and natural ingredients, with delicious and yummy smells added and of course buckets of love. The incredibly delicious chutneys and marmalade were made by Bee’s very special mother.  We were delighted that the whole lot was a sell-out; but, watch this space, we will be back!

Very many thanks to all those who came to the Fair and supported us. We made £511 on the day, which was incredibly exciting! Our special thanks go also to those kind and lovely people who have made donations. Please keep them coming; they are so important to the Fund.

Belinda Starling Grassroots Memorial Fund

Belinda Starling Trim, who lived in Wivenhoe, died on 11 August 2006 following an operation to remove a cyst on her bile duct. She was 34 and left a husband and two small children. Belinda, universally known as Bee, died knowing that would publish her first book, the Journal of Dora Damage. What she did not know was what a success it would be and how fantastic the reviews. English Literature, Drama and Music were her great loves, and one of her happiest moments was teaching Romeo and Juliet to a bunch of teenagers in KwaZulu. She was nineteen and in one of ’s rougher areas; a place where, as Bee said, “they all know what tear gas smells like.”

Reading Bee’s letters home that summer it was clear how much she enjoyed sharing her intellectual gifts with others less fortunate and that she had discovered a truth that for some remains hidden all their lives.

 “I can’t explain how much I love them,” she wrote. “They can be obnoxious or stroppy and I may tell them off strictly, but they have my love and trust and I have theirs and I just love them. Why does everyone go round as if love is a scarce commodity that must be rationed? There’s a huge reserve of love waiting to be tapped into, and it will never run dry.”

Now, the Belinda Starling Memorial Fund will channel that love into helping young people nearer home. It will help people like Belinda help children whose literary, drama or music ambitions and talents just cannot take root without help and encouragement – and money.

There are three reasons why the family have chosen to set up the Fund with the Essex Community Foundation. First, the administration is first rate and very cost effective. Secondly, the investment record is good, and, as the ambition is to build this fund substantially, this is important. But, thirdly, and by far the most important, ECF knows where the really needy kids are and can spend the money with precision and maximum effect.  

So far three grants have been made. Two to the London Bus Theatre Company www.londonbustheatre.co.uk to develop a drama project working with young offenders and then to provide free drama lessons to two of these kids who showed exceptional talent (one has since been accepted for the Bill). The third was to help a talented young musician develop his skills, particularly on the organ, and progress to a music degree at University.

Thank you so much for supporting us to raise money for Bee's charity.  x