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| Freda with the Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Roy Arora, the Mayoress and long time supporter Councillor Shiraz Mirza. |
Freda steered LEAH from the early days of chairing meetings of volunteers in the North Kingston Centre
old kitchen to overseeing the employment of 6 staff in our own place today. In fact, both Freda and Jeanette hosted
meetings in their own homes for many years too.
Freda was always fully engaged in our work – supporting her
own students and everything else that involved: including organising
recruitment and training of volunteers, dealing with student referrals; helping
run day trips for students and volunteers, and taking along spare clothes or
whatever else was needed for children, wrapping presents for the NY Party (how
time consuming that was, but always a good way of meeting up with the other
volunteers).
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| Freda with ex trustee Jeanette Hall |
Freda has always offered a moderate voice and been very
thoughtful in her response to ideas and plans to further LEAH's aims.
Always firm, fair and welcoming to others’ ideas, and
excellent at encouraging initiative.
A good listener and delegator, it was as if she followed the
maxim “The best way to keep power is to share it, and the best way to influence
is to listen”.
I have always thought that Freda seemed to concentrate on
getting the basics right.
As anyone who has known her will be aware, she is extremely
self-effacing (so much so that finding photographs of her has been difficult!).
Anyway, Freda, I guess that using our talents and leaving a
legacy is something we all desire to do and there is no doubt you have
succeeded in doing this.
LEAH is a better organisation because of your efforts, and a lovely
organisation to be involved in, either as an employee, student, volunteer or
trustee.
I am delighted that you have agreed to stay on as a trustee
as your knowledge and advice will be invaluable at a time when we are facing many
challenges common to voluntary organisations dependent on charity funding.
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| Freda with Joan at the Guildhall |
I am sure I speak for us all when I say it has been a
pleasure to know you and work with you and I hope you will find your continuing
role as a trustee enjoyable and fulfilling.
Joan McConn
29 January 2016
