Stephen Magson projects page

2008 News

Latest News July 2007

Gill and Tim are moving - to a new life in Chicago and following and Jane and Charlotte stepped also down from the committee due to family commitments'- that only left Debbie and Denise! Despite some kind offers of new members to the committee and after some lengthy discussions (and also a little bit of soul searching) we decided that we would continue with our fund raising commitments for this year i.e. St Crux on 11th July and The Stillington Barn Dance on the 14th October and then cease our active fundraising activities.

We still have enough money to honour our commitments by supporting our children Sittipng and Ranattaporn in Thailand - until they are 18, the design prize in Steve's name at BCIS ( formerly Dulwich college in Phuket) and for a few more took kits for the Minster . If all goes according to plan, with the investments we will make with the capital, there should also be small nest egg when the Trust finally comes to an end in about 10 years time.

Tim, Gill, Debbie and Denise all feel ( and I am sure the previous committee members Jane, Seggy, Charlotte and Ian would also endorse) that we are proud of what we have achieved and that The Stephen Magson Memorial Trust has been - and will continue to be- a fitting legacy for Steve and what he meant to us all.

We would like to thank all of you kind people who have supported and donated to the trust.

Donations will continue to be gratefully accepted and we hope to see you all at our farewell event - The Stillington Sports and Social Club Barn Dance!

Family trip back to Thailand for the second anniversary of the Tsunami - Photos in the Gallery

India and I and my nephew Alex went back to Koh Phi Phi this Christmas for the second anniversary of the Tsunami. We had a fantastic trip ( if a bit hectic - four countries in three weeks!) but our stay on Phi Phi was the highlight . Of course I had already returned in October 2005 to see the Stillington Boat but this was Indy's first trip back since the Tsunami and I was a little unsure about how she would cope. But I need not have worried she was fantastic and we also had our trusty Alex to help us navigate the wobbly moments! We arrived onto Phi Phi on the early ferry from Phuket on Christmas Day and were stuck immediately by how busy bustling and vibrant the island was. As you arrive you would not ever know the Tsunami had struck it looked just the same as when Steve, India and I have arrived together in 2004. However, as you go further into the town the evidence is all around with extensive rebuilding and still parts that have not been cleared ( Although I was told that a lot of the rubbish we saw had been left by builders not clearing up properly. )

We stayed at the Phi Phi View point on Loh Dalum Bay where Steve lost his life. We chose this because the View Point was not affected by the Tsunami as it is on the hill overlooking the bay and we wanted to feel safe. The Hotel was also next to the memorial garden and as soon as we had checked in we went to see the garden. It was looking really stunning - such a place of tranquillity. Although I had seen photos nothing prepared me for how beautiful it is and what a wonderful job Carol and her husband Toy have made.

Christmas day was spend exploring the Island and we went up to the beautiful view point at the top of the island for the sunset views over the two beaches. That night we discovered Millie and Tia's sunflower bar. Millie and Tia are two little girls who died in the Tsunami - their father Ben who owns the Bar was only member of his family to survive and rebuild his bar in 6 days working like Trojan to rebuild his life and livelihood. The bar and the memorial garden were at the centre of the memorial activities. The morning of Boxing day started early for us and as soon as we woke up at 7am India and I went down to the garden to create a little "shrine" for Steve besides the wall with plaques that we donated the money to re build. We placed pictures of all the family, candles, incense and lovely flowers - kindly gathered by the staff at the Hotel. We had a lovely peaceful moment together thinking about Steve. It was wonderful to meet Carol and Toy who came along with friends to get the garden ready for the days remembrance ceremony's. Not wanting to be spare parts we ended up helping by tying yellow ribbons around the trees ( a Thai custom and nothing to do with the 1970's song by Dawn!!). After a quick breakfast and gathering up Alex we returned at 10am for the memorial silence and speeches. I read a poem and all who were there felt the moving outpouring of love and grief we all felt as part of a community of people who have shared the extraordinary experience of the Tsunami. Some lovely music was played as we all light candles, incense and placed flowers saying our own words of remembrance. People gradually drifted down to the Sunshine Bar on the beach for food and drinks and I met up with Clare and Barbara Lester who or bereaved survivors from the Phi Phi Princess.

After a little while Alex and Indy and I walked down the beach to see the memorial area by the banyan tree set up by Charlie and the staff of the Phi Phi Princess and found books of condolences and Steve photo on a board with the others lost from the Phi Phi Princess.

The rest of our day was quite magical. India and Alex had their Tsunami Tattoos done at the tattoo bar and a great time was had by all ( Indy created quite a stir!) and we handed up having a mini party with the guys at the bar. We caught up with Charlie the owner of the Phi Phi Princess in his restaurant and heard all about the rebuild of the Hotel and the staff and orphans that he supports and then went down for a swim in Loh Dalum bay (a time to reflect and think about Steve).

That evening all the families met again at the memorial Garden which was beautiful and all illuminated with garden flares and candles and we lit some more candles for Steve, hugged each other and had a little weep.

The lovely and courageous Carol had bought lanterns for everyone so Indy, Al and I headed down to the beach to set off our own . I don't think I have ever seen anything so beautiful as when our lantern lifted up then drifted of into the night sky - it was amazing! My heart soared with them as dozens of lanterns were flying together towards the moon. It is difficult to describe how I felt but it was magical. After that there was nothing left to do but get drunk!!!

We had one more day on Phi Phi and had a wonderful time on the "Leanne" boat on a trip to Phi Phi Lay - having discovered that the "Stillington "Boat that had been on Phi Phi is now on Ko Yao or "Long Island" between Phang Na and Phuket.

On the morning of the 28th I got up early and wandered through the garden at the View Point picking flowers and went back down for my final time in the memorial garden. It was lovely and peaceful not a soul around as I said my farewells and placed a flower by the memorial plaques for Steve and for all the families I know who have lost their loved ones.

We said a sad farewell to Phi Phi and headed back to Phuket on the early ferry - where we had a mission- to find the "Steve Magson" boat! Alison Arlotte one of the members of the Tsunami Network had told me last year that they had seen the Steve Magson Boat in Phuket and kindly sent a picture and the name of the beach - Rawi beach on the south of the Island. When we came off the ferry we were collected by our trusty driver and then went off to see if we could find Steve's boat. After a few false starts - there it was right where it should be in the bay off Rawi Beach. It was a very handsome boat and after a few enquires managed to locate the boat man who was called "Ay". He started off the engine and proudly took us out for an hour over to the nearest small Island. Ay could not speak much English but we gave him a plaque to put on the prow of the boat similar to the one we had given last year to the "Stillington " boat man Chat. I was on such a high I could not believe that we had found the boat- it was incredible luck ( or maybe Steve was helping us out! )

On our last night in Phuket India was re- united with her friend Julie Anne and the Orchard Family who looked after her so generously after the Tsunami and we all had a wonderful evening courtesy of Charlie the owner of the Phi Phi Princess in a Chinese Restaurant in Phuket Town along with Clare and Barbara Lester and her new born baby the beautiful " Beau" - a perfect end to a wonderful time.

The rest of our holiday carried on being fantastic and after a couple of nights in Bangkok we met up with Gill and Tim in Ho Chi Min City for another adventure ( but that's another story!!)

I am so glad that I made the desicion for us to go back to Koh Phi Phi this year - we had a wonderful time and we felt such a part of the community- it will be very hard to resist the pull of the island as it is now a part of our lives.

Sponsorship of Sittipong and Roodimat a brother and sister who lost both their parents in the Tsunami - through the Sriphong Phukauluan Foundation

Last year Tim was working very hard and researching the best way to help support Tsunami victims and through reading the Phuket Gazette on the Internet discovered the Sriphong Phukauluan Foundation based in Krabi a local Thai Charity that is doing some wonderful work supporting Tsunami orphans and their families in the region. He contacted the director Robert saying that we would like to support two orphans until they have reached the aged of 18. We realise that this is a big commitment on the part of the Trust but also felt that it was a wonderful opportunity to help. We have just received the profiles of the two children that we are sponsoring and they are Sittiping - a 12 year old boy - and his sister Roodmat who is 7. The children sadly lost both their parents on Phi Phi during the Tsunami and are now living with their grandmother in Ao Nang who struggles to support them. Our money will help them with their education and help to raise the family's standard of living.

Here is some information that we have been sent.

Sittpong is 12 and has graduated from his old school and now attends a Muslim School takes the secular curriculum . His teachers say he is well behaved. He is large for his age and is shy about his size but he is good natured, outgoing and has lots of friends. He likes football and has recently taken up swimming. He is very protective of his little sister Roodimat.

Roodimat is 6 and is in her last year of kindergarten and will enter first grade when the next school year begins in April. She is a very active girl and in excellent health. Her teachers say she is playful and sociable and has made great improvements in the last year. She enjoys painting and is a well behaved girl.

We are all delighted with this opportunity to help Sittipong and Roodimat and will keep you informed of their progress and of course we hope to be able to meet them on our next trip back to Thailand.