There is a very lovely obituary written in the Times Educational Supplement today 6 August. It is featured on page 21 under the People section. Alternatively follow the link to the TES website by clicking here
11 August - My family and I wish to thank all those who managed to attend the funeral for our dear Liz yesterday. It was a very fitting and wonderful service, filled with love, words, music and prayer. Liz would have been very proud of the occasion but also humbled by the strength of tribute.
Thank you also to those of you who were unable to attend but who sent their best wishes. Your messages have always been greatly appreciated.
24 August 2010
I have discovered the Times Higher Educational Supplement have now also printed a different obituary for Liz. It was dated 19 August. You can access the obituary by clicking here
It was to be a wonderful weekend away in Norfolk. On Saturday 10th July Liz and I were heading towards Hickling Broad for some birdwatching, maybe canoeing and perhaps later onto the beach for a swim, which would have been such a perfect way to enjoy a lovely hot summers day. She had been working so hard she deserved a holiday.
Instead it was not to be. We were chatting happily about what we were going to do when suddenly it was all over for Liz, in a flash she was gone and she’d not have known a thing about it. In this we must all take great comfort.
Our loss is going to be felt by everyone who knew her for she was loved by all. A more generous, warm, caring, lively, energetic person we will rarely know.
It happened on the A47 to Great Yarmouth a long, straight and fast, stretch of road with two lanes each side of a crash barrier. There was no hard shoulder. We were approaching a turn off point and I could see a caravan had stopped on the side so cars in our lane were slowing and having to pull over into the faster right hand lane. I too started slowing down, indicated I was having to pull over, when the heavy goods vehicle slammed into our rear, shunting us forwards, spinning round and into the car in front which in turn caused a chain reaction that eventually involved six cars and the lorry. One other man had to be cut out of his car and was stretchered off – we can only pray that he fully recovers. I escaped with just a small cut to my leg.
It all occurred so suddenly there was nothing I could do to try to control our car and when we came to a stop Liz was by my side but I think she had passed away even at that point. She was carried to the roadside, first aiders and a doctor were joined quickly by the emergency services who tried all they could to resuscitate her but it was all in vain.
The full facts will eventually be revealed once all of the evidence has been collected and I cannot say any more than that.
I do hope that, if you can bear it, some of the photos below will help you to remember our dearest Liz all taken in the last year at times when she was happiest, doing the things she loved doing, with her family and friends.
Sadly this has all happened during the height of the holiday season and many of you will be distressed to think that you may not be able to share with us in our grief or to say goodbye but I know that Liz would have wanted you all to continue with your plans should you not be able to join us at the funeral.
Liz and I had talked about this and we will have her buried at our Church, St Leonard’s in Heath and Reach just outside Leighton Buzzard. Please re-visit this website for further details where I will try to keep you posted about developments.
With all our love,
Mike, David, Andrew and Jenny
12 July 2010
Update 15 July 2010
I was very pleased to speak to Marc Brooks of Coalville today. Marc was one of the first people on the scene. Despite having escaped all the horrors of the crash itself he came forward as a first aider and stuck by me and supported me through the terrible trauma that unfolded on the roadside. I must say Marc's kindness and humanity has really helped me and I've been deeply touched by his concern about my welfare and that of our children. Marc you were a real hero.
I must also mention first aider Neil who helped and comforted me at the hardest time. Thank you so much your efforts are hugely appreciated.
Update 18 July 2010
At times such as this many of you will want to seek comfort in listening to your favourite pieces of music . I would like to share with you a a piece that both Liz and I loved. It is called 'Spiegel im Spiegel' by Arvo Part, a modern Estonian composer. I think it is best heard in a quiet place because the simple tune is played by a single violin and piano in a very slow and contemplative way. I've found it really consoling and helpful and perhaps you too will gain some calm and peace from it as well.
Update 20 July 2010
We would like to say a big thank you to friends, family, colleagues and a multitude of others who knew Liz in the UK and across the globe for all of the words of condolence you have sent. We are finding these of great comfort particularly as so many of you have commented upon the wonderful legacy that Liz has left behind through her kindness, positive thinking and great faith.
Update 5 August 2010
The funeral will be held on Tuesday 10 August at 2pm at St Leonard’s Church, Heath and Reach, about 1.5miles north of Leighton Buzzard. Its address is Leighton Rd, Heath & Reach, LU7 0AA
Visit http://www.stleonardsheathandreach.org.uk for more information.
The service will be followed by the burial in the graveyard next to the Church. A reception tea will follow in the Church Hall. Some people have asked about dress. We suggest traditional funeral attire.
Revd. Jennie Cappleman, the vicar of St Leonards, will lead the service. Jennie is a very close and dear friend of Liz and our family.
By request, flowers will only be from the close family. See below for details of how to make donations.
Donations please
We ask that flowers are sent only from the family but charitable donations in memory of Liz are most welcome. You may have your own preferred charity that you like to support but, if not, please do consider giving to the Canon Collins Trust who have nominated a project based in Malawi in the memory of Liz.
Support the Education Department at the University of Malawi
Donations will support a pioneering programme in partnership with the Education Department at the University of Malawi. Canon Collins Trust is partnering the department by supporting twelve students to study for a Masters in Education Leadership, Policy and Planning, an investment without which the course would not be able to run. The result is that Malawi is able to train its own educational managers with a specific focus on Malawian challenges – rather than sending its educationalists to study abroad. The Trust is also partnering the department for a conference on inclusive education this September – a field which is relatively new for Malawi and in which it will benefit from expertise from across southern Africa.
However, the education department is desperately under-resourced and students struggle to access study items because these have to be shared with other departments. Donations will be used to buy computers and books to increase the quality of support available to students in memory of Elizabeth. We, Canon Collins Trust, may also be able to support a visit from an international expert to work with the twelve students and provide them with an international perspective on education management. Any funds above the amount required for the Education Department will be used for the Trust’s other programmes, in agreement with Michael Bird.
How to make your donation
Donations can be made by visiting the Trust's website and by filling in the secure online form. Please use the space for comments and online dedications to mention that your donation is in memory of Elizabeth Bird, to enable the trust to ensure that it is used specifically for the Malawi project.
To make an online donation please click here.
Alternatively, cheques can be made payable to Canon Collins Trust and sent to the following address: 22 The Ivories, Northampton Street, London, N1 2HY or sent to S.R.Dillamore, Funeral Directors, Regent House, 16 Old Road, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, LU7 2RF.
If you would like to pay by card but you want to send a paper copy of your donation form, you can request one by phoning +44 (0) 207 354 1462. Please specify in your letter if you would like to Gift Aid your donation, which means that the Trust can reclaim 25p from the government for every pound you give (and 28p until 5/4/2011).
Please mention that your donation is in memory of Elizabeth Bird, as this will enable the Trust to ensure that the funds are used specifically for the project in Malawi.
If you would like a receipt for your donation, please feel free to request one as the Trust is happy to send it either by email or by post.
Canon Collins Trust
Canon Collins Trust provides educational opportunities across ten countries in southern Africa, aiming to build skills and expertise in a wide range of areas which are essential for social development and growth – health, education, agriculture, human rights, science and technology and economics to name but a few. Our focus is on higher education as we believe that poverty reduction cannot be achieved through basic education and literacy alone – informed leadership is a vital ingredient. We have supported 2500 inspirational individuals to further their qualifications and are increasingly extending assistance to the institutions in which they study as well. Examples of individuals supported include the current Head of the Eye Unit at the Zambia Teaching Hospital, which carries out 1,000 cataract operations each year, and Country Manager of a Malawian NGO supporting 7,000 women through pregnancy annually in order to ensure that they do not pass HIV onto their babies.
In addition to our work in higher education, the Trust supports a number of community-based initiatives to improve educational access for disadvantaged groups, whether they are marginalised due to poverty, social status, disability, gender, ethnicity, race or geographical location. Among our projects are a science centre supporting 64 schools in South Africa, a scheme to enable Zimbabwean orphans to continue to access school, and a programme to reintegrate Malawian girls who have dropped out of school due to illness or pregnancy back into the education system.
“Higher education is essential to reduce poverty, ensure sustainable development and contribute to the building of peace…the work of the Trust is still much needed because it enables southern Africans themselves to transform lives.”
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Update 21 July 2010
Some of you may already know John O'Donohue's, 'Benedictus A Book of Blessings'*. It is a particular favourite of Liz's and whilst leafing it through it I came across a poem called 'For Death'. I originally reproduced the poem here but the copyright holders allowed me to reproduce it for only 3 months; that period has now passed so all I can do is urge you to seek out the book and find the poem on page 88. I have donated a copy of the book to St Leonard's Church where you will find it available for reference. Alternatively visit O'Donohue's webpage at the web address below.
For me the last verse sums up Liz's view of life. I think we all recognise that she could indeed review her life as one of huge achievement and fulfillment even though she would have been too humble to say so. Hopefully we too will feel inspired by her example. Many of you in your tributes have said how inspirational Liz has been to you and I pray that the inspiration will be an ongoing legacy in memory of our dear Liz.
Mike
*(Copyright John O'Donohue 2007)
Visit www.johnodonohue.com/
