Dr Karuna Chelliah

It is with much sorrow that I have to inform all our supporters that Dr Karuna Chelliah, Secretary of Society for the Care of the Handicapped, died suddenly of a heart attack on 29^th March 2012.

The meaning of Karuna is compassion and Dr Karuna Chelliah lived the meaning of his name and was an example to all those living with any kind of disability.

Dr Chelliah was such a very special man, so kind, courteous and courageous and it was a privilege for me to have met him.  He made his vision of the boys’ home a reality and kept it alive with his heart, body and soul and I felt honoured to be able to support him in his work.

My life changed forever after I met the doctor and his wife – they became more than my friends, they became my family and my heart goes out to Mrs Princess Karuna and her daughters and grandchildren at this very sad time.

On 1st April 2012 a prayer meeting was held at the doctor’s house, so many people came and spoke about his good character and his love of poor people, the physically handicapped and of his patients.

The doctor’s goodness was obvious for all to see and he will be sadly missed but his legacy will live on through Mrs Princess Karuna who has been appointed by the Society’s Board as a Committee Member.

Mrs Princess, the Board Members, Staff and children at the home kindly request your continuous co-operation and support in the days to come.

I am sure that all the supporters of The Neem Tree Trust join me in expressing their deepest sympathy in the passing of Dr Chelliah but we would also like to celebrate his life and the thousands of lives he touched and enriched through his goodness and sacrifice.

Kathy Miller

Michael and John at an Open Gardens in Avoncliff

John will have a Neem Tree Trust stall at

Rowdeford School Garden Fair – Saturday 20th May 2012 (10.00am – 3.00pm)

Seend Church Fete – Saturday 2nd June 2012 (12 noon – 5.00pm)

Mead Nursery Open Day – Sunday 19th August 2012 (12 noon – 5.00pm)

Ken and I have made many new friends since we founded The Neem Tree Trust and two of the most interesting are Michael Manser and John Kendall who have supported the charity for many years. We first met them both at our friends Sue and Ian Bolden’s Open Garden in Bradford-on-Avon where we were serving refreshments in aid of The Neem Tree Trust.

Michael subsequently joined our Neem Tree Trust Lottery Club, making a donation each year but as I recall he has never actually won a lottery prize!

Michael and John frequently visit India and they have told us fascinating tales of tribal people in Chhattisgarh in Central India as well as their friendship with the Maharaja and Maharani of Gondal, in the State of Gujurat. Although they have yet to visit southern India they are very interested in the work we do on behalf of the children in Tamil Nadu.

John at his stall at Rowdeford School Fair

John first trained as a veterinary surgeon and practised in Chippenham for 9 years, after which he trained as a teacher and taught Animal and Plant Science for 20 years at George Ward School, Melksham. He has many interests but a real fascination for antiques, which he developed at an early age when, as a small boy he would frequently accompany his mother to antique shops. His interest grew and for many years he and his mother ran a small antiques business together and they would take a stall at the Marlborough Antiques Fair each year, which was held in aid of Oxfam.
Photo above right: Michael and John at an Open Gardens in Avoncliff

Arranging the Christmas stall in the Aladdin’s cave at Seend House

Nowadays John continues his interest as a hobby and each weekend during the summer rises very early in the morning to explore four or five car boot sales in search of small antiques which are interesting and beautiful and which he considers he can sell for a reasonable price and make a small profit. He does this not for his own benefit but for that of The Neem Tree Trust and the children we support in south India and he has raised over £3,000 for our charity!
Photo left: John at his stall at Rowdeford School Fair

John takes a stall at three events during the year, Rowdeford School Garden Fair near Devizes, Seend Church Fete, near Melksham, and Mead Nursery Open Gardens at Brokers Wood near Westbury. In November and December each year he turns a spare bedroom at home in Seend into an Aladdin’s cave to give friends and family the opportunity to browse and buy unique Christmas presents at very reasonable prices.

Rowdeford School May 2010

Rowdeford School May 2010

The Mead Nursery Open Day August 2010

Mike & Alison’s Coffee Morning was held on Thursday 27th October this year and a record £1,130 was raised in just two hours for The Neem Tree Trust!  In spite of the inclement weather, the good folk of Winsley and beyond turned out in their scores to enjoy Mike and Alison’s hospitality, to support the charity and to spend generously on goods and tombola tickets.  Over 20 local businesses donated fantastic prizes for the tombola thus encouraging everyone to buy more tickets in the hope of winning one of the prizes.

We would like to thank everyone who helped with the Coffee Morning as well as those who came along to support us and who made it such a successful event.  Kathy will be visiting the children in India in January next year and she will hand over the money and will report back on how the money will be used to improve the lives of the children at the boys’ home and the leprosy hospital.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sutton BengerKnitters meet once a fortnight in each others houses and were delighted to make the hand puppets for the children.  Kathy has promised to take some photographs when she visits the children in India next January and to visit the group again in the spring to give them an update on progress at the boys’ home and the leprosy hospital.

Ken and Kathy both went along to the match (with divided loyalties!) suitably attired for the occasion and met up with many Indian supporters who wanted to join us for a photograph.

We met up with some very jovial supporters from Wales who gave us very generous donations for The Neem Tree Trust in return for our Indian garlands.

We even had a mention from Jonathan Agnew on Test Match Special because Kathy had sent him an Indian garland with a letter about the charity and he opened it up on the airwaves!!

Gautam Bhimani also interviewed us for Indian television so we’re hoping that some of the children we support in India may have seen us.

We gave out a number of cards and leaflets about the Neem Tree Trust which certainly generated a lot of interest.  All in all a great day!

Young people at Oakley Holidays with the Boaris Johnson Piggy Bank

Established in 1919, Oakley Holidays is a registered charity organised on a voluntary, not-for-profit basis, and run to provide opportunities for young people primarily aged between 12~18.

The Charity’s objects are to benefit children through their leisure time activities, specifically through the provision of holidays, so as to develop their physical, mental and spiritual well being, in order that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society.

Holidays for up to 100 people are held during school Easter and summer breaks and last for one week.  You can read more about the work of Oakley Holidays by visiting their website www.oakleyholidays.org.

During the week the young people try to support charities, often suggested by younger members of the holiday, in a variety of practical ways and by means of a collection. These include:

• Bringing items to fill Aquaboxes for disaster victims.
• Donating 5 pences whilst making purchases at their daily tuck shop which is stored in the Oakley piggy bank, named Boaris Johnson.  This money was donated for the work of ST. LUKE’S LEPROSY HOSPITAL in India.
• Running their own Sport Relief mile in fancy dress, whilst recent donations have been made to the Air Ambulance, the World Wildlife Fund and Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Volunteers, Ellie Taylor, Vicky Taylor, Laura Bury, Becca Waite, Helen Bradbrook and Frances Kelly

By all accounts it was a ‘Superbly designed’ and ‘a magical, well nigh perfect production’.

During the interval a Big Bears raffle was run by volunteers, Ellie Taylor, Vicky Taylor, Laura Bury, Becca Waite, Helen Bradbrook and Frances Kelly, and between the six of them they sold an amazing £300 worth of raffle tickets for the eight bears in just 20 minutes!

They were greatly helped by Sally Naden of BBC Radio Lancashire who promoted the play and the raffle during her week in Lytham with her morning show.

The Neem Tree Trust was delighted to learn that the group has requested that the proceeds of the raffle should be donated specifically to the Women’s Ward at St Luke’s Leprosy Hospital and we would like to thank everyone for their efforts on behalf of the patients.

The organisers of The Silk & Spice Ball, Sara Spratt, Caryl Hogson and Mel Lawman photographed by Piers Cunliffe Photography

The “Silk and Spice” fund-raising Ball took place in September 2010 at The Royal High school, Bath.

The event was a colourful evening with Indian/African/Asian themed decor and music. Over 180 guests enjoyed fusion food and wonderful entertainment by the Bollywood dance troupe  “Angel Dancers”. In their final dance number several Year 10 girl helpers joined in with a splendid version of Jai Ho. We then went on to dance the night away.

The purpose of all this pleasure was to raise money for the school and designated charities. In March 2010 a small Ball sub-committee was set up by the Head of the Friends, Sara Spratt. Another parent, Caryl Hodgson and I set about organising the occasion.  Other “friends”, husbands, pupils etc helped with setting up, lighting, running the bar and the raffle. Sara secured the services of the BBC celebrity antiques expert Jonty Hearnden to lead the impressive auction of promises on the evening.

We were delighted with the response from parents, local businesses and other Friends of the Royal High school who gave donations and Raffle prizes. Many local shops donated ex‑display decor which I was able use to decorate the vast school sports Hall and reception areas. I must also mention the generosity of The Indian garden company for donating their exquisite parasols at cost. They were a feature on the stage. Also Tom Woods, the school caretaker who constructed the elephants. With their help, a lot of creative hard work, and clever lighting the venue was transformed.

In my search for stunning table centre decor, I came across a beautiful silk bottle cover (with the label Neem Tree Trust on the side) which a guest had given me. I imagined a display of pink, orange and black feathers, longs grasses, with sparkling birds and flowers attached… all contained in this pink/red silk holder. I looked on the Internet to discover that THE NEEM TREE TRUST was a charity based near to Bath. I got in touch with Kathy and arranged to visit her home. I was so impressed with her dedication and the work of the boys that not only did I want to purchase bottle covers and an incredible hand-made banner, I wanted the evening to benefit the charity.  When I put forward the suggestion of a donation from the profits of the Ball going to the Trust, it was immediately agreed. The “Friends” also wanted a donation to go to the Royal High School’s sister school in Kenya, The Crane Academy, where several girls are sponsored. How wonderful that boys and girls in Africa and India might receive some help. Now to the business of making a profit!!

Due to high raffle ticket sales, some spectacular Auction prizes and the skills of Jonty, we raised enough money to donate £2,237 to the Neem Tree trust and the same amount to The Crane Academy. Some of the profits also enabled the Friends to purchase new equipment for the girls. It was a tremendous success all round.

For me personally it was truly an Indian summer. I delighted in making contact with so many wonderful people. Kathy and her husband Ken have become friends. I also received a letter from Dr. Karuna Chelliah from the Home in Tirunelveli, South India, with a photograph of Kathy’s son and some of the boys.  The experience of creating the Ball for a good reason was a pleasure…and I got to dress up too!!! with my husband and my daughter.

Mel Lawson

The Royal High School, Bath

http://www.royalhighbath.gdst.net/

www.pierscunliffephotography.co.uk

www.indiangardencompany.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a sunny afternoon and they had many admiring visitors and raised over £230 for The Neem Tree Trust.   We are extremely grateful to Sue and Ian for their interest and support over the years and would like to thank them for sharing their garden with us!