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Maria Stableford raised £1,020 from 30 supporters
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Closed 11/08/2017
Weʼve raised £1,020 to Updated: A kind local has donated to Lee a boat. Although structurally sound, it is just a shell with an engine.Help to buy tools/wood etc
- Ely, United Kingdom
- Funded on Friday, 11th August 2017
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Story
For many years Lee England (the Ely willow man) has been living and selling his amazing willow sculptures and structures from the roof of his boat in Ely and the waterways of East Cambridgeshire. He is fondly thought of and he loved to talk to visitors to the Ely river about his fine work.
Sadly, recently Lee,s life was turned upside down when his boat sunk. In one moment he lost everything, his home, business and of course his willow tools. Lee had built this boat himself and so it had meant the world to him.
Fb/elywillowman-support
I have set up a local Fb page to help target emergency help. Local residents have kindly and gratefully donated food and a sleeping bag, wind up torch, radio etc. As well as a small 2 berth boat which was initially lent by an amazing local.
It has now been gifted to Lee !!
Lee is obviously over the moon. it was believed that Lee's boat could possibly be righted. But this is now unlikely to happen with it being in tact.
This page is to buy Lee tools and supplies: wood etc as the boat donated is structurally sound, but it is a shell with an engine. So it will need a lot of work, which if funded Lee can do.. As well as Lee fixing up this boat the tools etc. will allow Lee to continue his willow business from the roof of his boat and to become self sufficient again.
This is the link to Lee's willow website where you can view more photos of his houseboat which sunk and also his willow creations. Obviously Lee isn't willow making at this time as he has lost everything.
http://www.bespokewillowsculptures.co.uk/MY-SURVIVAL-CRAFT.html
#Elywillowman
Updates
6
6 years ago
Maria Stableford
6 years agoLee says a BIG Thankyou to everyone for all the food, supplies and funds donated to get him back on his feet gain. It just goes to show that even river dwellers are considered part of a special community in Ely, surrounding villages and further afield. You all rock !! Over the coming months photos will be posted of Lee's progress in making his donated boat more habitable. I will post these pics over on the fb page/ Elywillowman-support
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6 years ago
Maria Stableford
6 years agoLee was in fine spirits today, when I popped down with food. He is so grateful to everyone whom has been helping and supporting him. I showed him all the lovely comments on the just giving page and on Facebook. He said that "you are top people. Better than the pirates" 🤣 I felt emotional when Lee spoke to another boat dweller whom had run out of food. Lee gave that man a couple of his tinned meals. The more I get to know Lee the more humbling I feel.The waterways are awash of all sorts of folk. Poverty and wealth exists often side by side.
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6 years ago
Maria Stableford
6 years agoThankyou to everyone whom has donated so far. Lee needs to get his boat liveable, kitchen area, heating,water etc before the winter. So Lee will need new tools and carpenters materials. Lee wants to be self sufficient soon. so please keep sharing this page. A huge thankyou for everything so far !
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6 years ago
Maria Stableford
6 years agoThe amazing and kind hearted local has now gifted this boat to Lee. The boat is structurally sound but a shell with an engine. Your kind donations will go to buy Lee carpentry tools and supplies so that Lee can build the rest of this boat. Then start making his willow business and become self sufficient again.
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Maria Stableford started crowdfunding
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Supporters
30
Anonymous
Aug 11, 2017
£10.00
H Dino
Aug 10, 2017
Sorry it couldn't be more but hope it helps x
£30.00
A HALL
Aug 8, 2017
Keep up the good work
£30.00
Anonymous
Jul 29, 2017
Alan Bumstead
Jul 22, 2017
Good Luck to Lee. He's very lucky to have friends like you Maria.
£5.00
Anonymous
Jul 21, 2017
£500.00
Helen Bowley
Jul 19, 2017
£10.00
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Maria Stableford
Ely, United Kingdom
This is to get Lee England back on his feet. Lee lost his houseboat and his willow business which he sold from the roof of his boat. He lost everything when the boat sunk a short while ago. Lee had built the boat from scratch so it meant the world to him