Memorial book tribute to horse-loving teen
LOCALS are being asked to contribute to a memorial book being made in a fundraising tribute to a former North Highland College student who tragically died five years ago.
Caithness-based funeral and wedding celebrant Penelope Hamilton (60) lost her daughter, Thea Sharp, in a car accident in Moray in 2006 when she was aged just 19.
With the anniversary of her death on Tuesday, Penelope is now appealing for friends and people who knew her daughter to come forward and help put together a book of memories, photos and anecdotes about the teen.
Any donations received will go to the Caithness branch of the Riding for the Disabled Association, a cause close to Thea’s heart.
“I’ve been thinking for a while about how I can raise money for the Caithness branch of the Riding for the Disabled Association. The thing I’m most interested in is writing – it’s what I do in my spare time and in my work as a celebrant writing ceremonies,” said Ms Hamilton.
“I suddenly thought that putting together a book of memories about Thea would be a lovely way of getting everybody together, all of her friends.”
She added: “I want to put the proceeds to the Riding for the Disabled Association in Caithness, particularly, because that was sort of Thea’s thing.
“Although she never worked with them that’s the kind of thing she wanted to do. Caithness made her very happy.”
At the time of the accident, Thea was studying Horse Management at NHC and living at Ormlie Lodge in Thurso – ?although she had grown up in Yorkshire.
Ms Hamilton explained her daughter adored horses, and her ambition was to have a riding centre specialising in holidays for people with disabilities and their families.
Contributors can send donations with their written or photographic memories. Publication costs will be covered separately, so every penny of every pound that’s donated will support RDA Caithness.
Every contributor will receive a copy of the book, which will be published on the special date that would have been Thea’s 25th birthday – November 11 this year.
Ms Hamilton is in the process of thinking of a way to make a joyous occasion out of the day.
“I thought I would invite everybody, wherever they are in the world, to maybe just do something at the same moment in time – have a drink in her memory, or meet up with friends,” she said.
“Thea was incredible, sociable and just loved people.”
Last year Ms Hamilton completed a mile-long swim in a dock in the Thames which kicked off her fundraising for the RDA and she hopes to raise £1111 to mark what would have been Thea’s 25th birthday.
The deadline for contributions is August 31, and they can be posted to PO Box 15, Dornoch IV25 3WW, accompanied by a cheque made out to RDA Caithness, or e-mailed to pelempy@btinternet.com with payment via http:
