TCF News, Spring 2021

Spring 2021 - TCF Newsletter | www.tcf.org.uk 2 Nisha Shah My darling youngest daughter Kishori never allowed her asthma or her allergies to limit her enthusiasm for life and passion for living. In 2016 while travelling in Colombia she experienced an anaphylactic reaction to something she had eaten and died without access to the medical care which could have saved her. As a practising medic and psychiatrist to boot this has been a terrible trauma to survive. I will always be grateful to TCF which has and still does provide me with models of compassionate, practical and loving support. My new tribe have helped me on my journey alongside other bereaved parents and siblings, through a weekend retreat and supportive group meetings. I am so glad I can now give something back, as trustee. I am blessed to be mother to 2 other children, Anmika and Jashan. Ken Barclay On New Year’s Day 2016 we lost our son Adam to a brain tumour aged 27. It was just a few weeks before his wedding day. He had two children who were then aged 3 years and 8 months. The days, months, years that followed have brought us a world of darkness. In modern life there is much training and coaching available but when it comes to the really difficult areas there is an absence of help. TCF is one exception. Wendy has been part of the TCF family for three years and received great support through weekend retreats, local groups, telephone calls and via Facebook. Both of us have also made many good friends within TCF. I would like to repay this as best I can by contributing to the Trustee Board. My background includes teaching, military, consulting actuary and charity work - Chair for 7 years with the Citizens Advice, Chair for 4 years with Bucks Advanced Riders and Drivers. I have fundraised for NSPCC, Brain Tumour Research, Uphill Ski Club of GB and the England Rugby Charity. I enjoy walking our dog, cycling, hill walking and meals out with friends. First online AGM November 2020 saw our first online Annual General Meeting attended by over 100 members. The event included an address by our Chair of Trustees, Andrew Miller QC, update on our charity’s financial position from Trustee, Nigel Taylor, fundraising news from Stephen Armstrong and a report on the activities and achievements of TCF in the UK by Chief Executive, Carolyn Brice. Listen again to the meeting on our Youtube channel – The Compassionate Friends UK. The Annual Report and Financial Statements 2019-20 were also presented and can be viewed here www.tcf.org.uk/annualreport . The composition of our Trustee Board was also confirmed with the re-election of Jen Hughes, Sheila Phillips, Gill Hardy and George Burn. Two new Trustees joined the Board – Nisha Shah and Ken Barclay. Introducing our new trustees