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Tsunami in Asia
The Lauren Eley Centre for Music & Art
"Lauren's Gift"
Lauren would have been 21 on February 26th this year, as
a special tribute her parents visit Thailand to see and work
at the 'Lauren Eley Centre for Music and Art'
Scroll down for the full details;
a special tribute her parents visit Thailand to see and work
at the 'Lauren Eley Centre for Music and Art'
Scroll down for the full details;
By the end of the night Bridget, Ron, Emma and Paul were able to announce that they had achieved something they could never have predicted. Lauren's Fund had once again been doubled from the activities on the night, the sale of admission tickets and by ongoing sale of raffle tickets The screen above and behind the family told the story but we have copied it on the right so that you can see for yourselves the amount raised - seeing is believing!; |
With such an incredible result the family were also able to announce that the Lauren Eley Centre for Music and Art was now well and truly under way which the following slide show, presented on the evening, confirmed; |
And so, finally, but after just a few months since acquiring the house in Baan Nam Khem in Phang Nga province in southern Thailand THE LAUREN ELEY CENTRE FOR MUSIC AND ART was open for business. Chatchada is the manager of the centre and you will be able to see and hear her message to the family above |
LET THE MUSIC AS WELL AS THE ART GO ON.... |
WITH OVER £6,000 COLLECTED "THE LAUREN ELEY CENTRE FOR MUSIC AND ART" WILL BE ABLE TO DO EVEN MORE THAN THE FAMILY HAD EVER DREAMED OF. CHILDREN FROM BAAN NAM KHEM AND ALL THE SURROUNDING AREAS WILL BENEFIT THROUGH BOTH THE CENTRE AND THE MOBILE UNIT WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE FACILITIES DIRECT TO THEM IN SCHOOLS AND OUTLINING AREAS. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE HELPED FINANCIALLY, MORALLY AND THROUGH YOUR ACTIVE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT. KEEP AN EYE ON THIS SITE FOR FURTHER NEWS ON LAUREN'S CENTRE AND FUTURE PROJECTS IN HER NAME. |
Lauren's Fund; Should you like more details or feel you could
also assist in any way please contact pwarsop@gmail.com
also assist in any way please contact pwarsop@gmail.com
| Bridget & Ron VISIT LAUREN'S CENTRE IN THAILAND Full report soon, meanwhile see their early cell phone pics |
| Hello my name is Jill Lee and I just want to tell you about my experience on my visit to Lauren’s place. My family and I went on holiday to Thailand and I told Bridget that I wanted to visit Lauren’s place there. Peter and Waree were really helpful in giving us directions there, which made things much easier and I thank them both for their help. On the way there our driver showed us where the Tsunami had hit, it seemed so very unreal even seeing the boats that had been brought inland and are left there as landmarks. On our arrival I rang Chatchada (the manager of Lauren's Centre) to say we would meet by the orange boat, another boat that had been brought inland. On opening the car door she just grabbed hold of me and hugged me saying that she loved to meet people who have helped. I felt this tremendous warmth and kindness come over me. Chatchada then took us to the brightly painted school where three little girls were colouring on the front. She said something to them in Thai on which they puts there pencils down and greeted us in the traditional Thai way and said “hello” with beautiful smiley faces. We went into the school taking our shoes off where more children were sitting on the floor and painting, again we were greeted in the Thai way and with a “hello”. The children were of varying ages from about 3 to about 9, I think. They were painting on canvases and plain paper. Chatchada asked us to present the children with little bags, each child came to us and put their hands together and said thank you. Their little faces were beautiful and again lots of smiles. I then wanted a photograph of the children holding up the morning’s paintings. I also brought some home with me. As it was lunchtime some of the children left saying goodbye and some stayed. Chatchada then drove us to the Memorial Park, which is situated on the seafront and where the tsunami wave hit Baan Nam Kem, I stood not able to contemplate what these lovely people had seen and how devastating the effects had been. Inside the memorial building there are pictures of the Tsunami, which still didn’t seem real and that it actually happened with the before and after pictures. We also visited the Cemetery. When I arrived in Baan Nam Kem you could see that the village had been able to re- build itself. When I got to Lauren’s place I was overwhelmed and had a huge lump in my throat because the children were just so beautiful and happy. Chatchada is truly a special person and she explained to me that with the painting it helped the children get the pictures of the Tsunami out of their minds. Her dedication is amazing. On leaving the school I looked back out of the window and could see how much had been done to help the children. When you drive around the town you can see that the people have hardly anything but that they are so warm and welcoming. The children were exceptional and have obviously been helped enormously. Unfortunately I was never blessed to meet Lauren however through Bridget I have heard everything about her and seen the family album on the website, and feel that I do know her in a way. In the family album pictures my favourite is Red Nose Day with Lauren in her red nose pyjamas and whilst I was in the school I had a wonderful sense of feeling that she was there and could envisage her sitting there helping the children. I know it sounds strange but that was all I could think of on leaving. I had a tremendous feeling of humbleness on that day and I will always do my best to continue helping Bridget, Ron, Emma and Paul in this wonderful special project. I shall definitely go again and would encourage everyone to go if they can. Love Jill. xxx |
A family friend visits 'Lauren's Centre' in Thailand ....
DURING AUGUST 2007 JILL LEE AND HER FAMILY PLANNED TO VISIT THAILAND FOR A HOLIDAY. AS A FAMILY FRIEND AND KEEN SUPPORTER TO LAUREN'S FUND SHE DECIDED TO MAKE THE TRIP UP TO THE AREA OF BAAN NAM KHEM TO SEE FOR HERSELF THE WORK BEING CARRIED OUT IN LAUREN'S NAME. THE FOLLOWING REPORT AND PICTURES DIARY JILL'S VISIT TO LAUREN'S CENTRE FOR MUSIC AND ART ALONG WITH THE SURROUNDING AREA. |
| A number of visits have taken place over the last few months to Lauren's centre in Baan Nam Khem but the most significant is taking place now (February 08) by Lauren's parents, Bridget and Ron. Bridget and Ron will report fully upon their return on the various activities within which they hope to include; |
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| With £3,000 already raised and in the bank thoughts turned to the sale of more Raffle tickets and organising the function on 25th November called 'Sing for your Supper'. Help from friends and family was wonderful. We had lots of people wanting to sell books of raffle tickets and those that could offer help on the night. We already had 23 nice prizes donated to the prize draw and so ticket sales remained buoyant. For the 'Sing for your Supper' function we had help from people wanting to prepare food, organise events, provide the karaoke and even a chef offering his services to dress and serve the food. So everything was ready, and what a fabulous night it was, over 125 people joined us ........ |
| NEWS FLASH; AS BRIDGET AND RON PREPARE TO JET OFF TO THAILAND TO MAKE THEIR FIRST VISIT AND HELP AT LAUREN'S CENTRE NEWS COMES THROUGH THAT "LAUREN'S GIFT" HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY REGISTERED IN THE UK WITH FULL CHARITY STATUS |
| Children at Lauren's Centre show Bridget and Ron and let them listen to what they can do |
| 23 February 2008 |
| 23 February 2008 |
Lauren's Plaque was hung in Lauren's Centre by Bridget and Ron Eley during their first visit to the Centre in February 2008. Placed in a Bamboo frame the inscription was written both in Thai and English ------- * ------- Lauren Eley lived in Northampton England and died around the time of the Thai Tsunami. Lauren was a happy and fun loving girl who was looking forward to working with children when she finished her studies. Lauren died before she could live her dream but through the help of her family and friends back in England she would have been delighted to have been able to help the children of Baan Nam Khem by financing this Music and Art Centre As well as loving children and wanting to help and work with them, Lauren also loved to sing and create music and art. How proud she would have been that children may come here to enjoy all the things she would her self have been thrilled to teach. Have a great time |
| Scroll to the bottom of this page to see the inscription details |