a death in the family

[ravanwin]

All,

I hope this is not inappropriate or crass to post this here but I figured some of you might want to know that a good friend of the Forest has sadly passed away. Ellie Maxwell, who was one of the original members of The Forest collective and who founded the amazing Firefly charity in Bosnia, died on Monday. She was our legal expert for a long time and helped shape the Forest in the early years, and continued offering guidance and suggestions along the way. She reminded us often of our ethos and responsibilities as an organization and is largely responsible for our important relationship with the Edinburgh University Settlement. It is with great thanks to Ellie that The Forest currently lives in 3 Bristo place and not in a small, dark basement somewhere. She also helped with funding for the The Cave project as this was a joint Forest / Firefly project. Her links and work in Bosnia allowed some of us to visit that country and also led directly to the creation of the Balkan Invasion CD and tour which was produced by Forest. Further, her work in Bosnia facilitated the arrival of our friends Miroslav and Saska of Black Cat. Ellie's legacy is huge and the ramifications of her work with Firefly, the Edinburgh University Settlement and The Forest are countless. Even if you did not know her, I feel strongly that if you enjoy or love The Forest, than you probably love her too as, without her, I doubt The Forest would exist in the same form it does now.

Most importantly, however, she was a good and personal friend to many of us old-timers and she was always a friend of The Forest and we will miss her very very much.

I'll try to keep people posted about services etc. I will also let us know if there is a way to express condolences to her family in some way.

Sadly,
Ryan

[neil]

That is so sad. Thanks for posting this. I only knew Ellie vaguely, and would not otherwise have known. It's always tragic when someone dies so young. She will be missed.

[baloo]

x
safe journeys to her.
x

[Susana]

I saw this obituary and thought you may like to read it:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/commen ... 082459.ece

Pax in aeternum

[ravanwin]

This is from Ben, Ellie's husband. If anyone objects to this being on here or thinks it (or any part of it) would be best placed in a private forum, please say so.

For friends of Ellie or anyone who'd like to participate in the mourning process:

Everyone is invited to everything. If you're not sure if x should come, they should.
>
> I asked Ellie a couple weeks ago about what she wanted for her funeral, and
> she said "I'd like all my friends to be there and I'd like to be buried
> somewhere pretty, like Abney Park or Richmond. Apart from that... well, we
> can just ask everyone what they want to do." So in keeping with her wishes
> (and so that our many days of weddings aren't outdone) her funeral will last
> for more than a week, and incorporate Catholic, Quaker, and Jewish elements,
> along with space for all of you to do or say what you'd like. Here's the
> schedule:
>
> Tues, 21 Apr, 3 pm @ Corpus Christi church (http://tinyurl.com/corpusc):
> A funeral mass in honour of Ellie will be held at Corpus Christi off Brixton
> Hill, postcode SW22AD. There is a reception to follow at the church hall
> next door. Her family and friends will be reading excerpts from everything
> from the Sermon on the Mount (Jesus) to Take That (Gary Barlow) and there's
> singing and stuff. Ali Lockhart will talk a bit about Ellie's much too
> short life, if he can manage it. I swear that even if you don't normally
> like church funerals, this is the one for you!
>
> Weds, 22 Apr, 2 pm @ Section V of East Sheen cemetery in Richmond
> (http://tinyurl.com/cemeteryes):
> The next afternoon, Ellie's body will be brought to from the church to East
> Sheen cemetery next to Richmond Park (TW10) for burial at 2 pm. It'll be a
> Quasi-Quaker ceremony with everyone taking part, so if you feel like it,
> come with something appropriate to read, say, sing, or do once she's in the
> ground. If you can write something down, or just have a nice photo or
> something else to do with ellie, Nadja Coyne (Nadjacoyne@gmail.com) will be
> putting together a scrapbook for me. James Gloyn
> (james@learntodrawcomics.net) has some ideas about music so you can talk to
> him about that. Please feel free to organise anything else you'd like. We
> can stay till the cemetery closes, and Tom Santorelli and his parents have
> kindly offered to open their house to us in case of pouring rain or the
> cemetery being on fire. It's at 40 Sheen Rd
> (http://tinyurl.com/tomstallioneshouse), just around the corner from the
> cemetery.
>
> Weds 22 Apr. - Tues 28 Apr @ Flat 10, 31 Morrish Rd, SW24EB
> (http://tinyurl.com/eandbhouse)
> Directly from the burial, Ellie's first-degree relations (Me, Peter,
> Virginia, Ben, Laura, and Liz) will return to where Ellie and I lived to
> mourn for one week in a way based on the Jewish tradition of sitting Shiva.
> We will stay in the house for seven days doing nothing but thinking and
> talking about Ellie. We're not supposed to cook for ourselves, so we need
> people to visit us and bring food. We cannot distract ourselves with films,
> books, or games (though some heretical backgammon will probably be going
> on). We cannot conduct business, and cannot talk about the death of anyone
> but Ellie or close relatives known to her. I will not be using my phone or
> email and would ask that others also not do so in the flat. Our mirrors
> will be covered and no photography is allowed. It's considered a Mitzvah,
> or good deed, to visit people who are sitting Shiva, so please do-- we would
> like visits from anyone and everyone who wants to come and talk and think
> about ellie with us. The front door to my flat will be unlocked and please
> try my neighbour's bells (Flats 9,11, or 12) before ours to get into the
> building. We will remain there until about noon on Apr. 28th, when we will
> leave and do our best to return to our lives.
>
> Later, I will be placing a memorial bench (and hopefully planting a tree)
> for Ellie in Brockwell park, a place we went together many, many times. I
> thought it'd be good karma for this to be in memory of Ellie from everyone,
> so anyone interested in contributing a few pounds can address it to me at
> Flat 10, 31 Morrish Rd, Brixton, London SW24EB. Anything left over will go
> to Firefly. For questions about donating to Firefly generally, speak to Dan
> Gorman (coenoise@yahoo.com) who's been doing a great job of helping keep it
> all going since Ellie's been ill.
>
> See you all soon, and please forward this to anyone else you think might
> want to come to ellie's funeral; again, the invitation is open to anyone and
> everyone for all parts of the ceremony.
>
> Thanks,
> Ben

[Susana]

What a beautiful and profound way to say goodbye thay is. I am in aw.

I never met Eli (I googled her the other day to find out whether I had met her or not -which is why I found the obituary I posted here- but no, I don't remember meeting or knowing her), however I think it would be very much a dutiful thing to do for the Forest to join in with the mourning and hold something like a few hours of meeting among us. This could be in ,say, the crafty room, and it would take place at a convenient time while they have the week of gathering in their house in London. What do you think?

[Susana]

I have booked the crafty room for Wed, 22nd from 4-9 to have a 'remembrance' time for Eli. Anyone welcome to join me. Love

[Jimmy Bastard]

I've read and re-read this thread and delayed posting as my own interaction with Ellie was slight, limited to two days where I tagged along with her an Dan to set up a fresh office for her in Brixton.
I feel grateful for this trip and along with Susanna feel nothing but awe witnessing how those who knew her well are grieving while never once wavering from celebrating each and every aspect of a hugely realised life.
Bless you all.x

[Susana]

Just to share with you: I did come last Wednesday to do a bit of meditating/honouring Ellie. I hadn't realized that the crafty room is not such a good place for it. i.e. it is very much a working place now. So I went home and lit a candle for her, next to this picture of her. I have being doing it every day in the evening and intend to carry on doing it for the length of time they are gathered together in london.

Anyhow, I thought also it could be a nice idea to sow a few flowering plants back in the garden. I gave the seeds to Baloo and he also thought it would be a nice gesture. But please do let us kow if you think otherwise.(I bought these seeds for perennial, hardy plants so they may live on for a very long time...) We further thought of lying next to them some sort of sign with her name on it.

[baloo]

i am organizing a memorial bed out back,once its prepared we can all plant a something, i will set a date... lots of flowers and medicinal bits, lovely smells and colours........ thought we could plant a tree for ol'Jack too....some sorta tough indestructable one...... x

Deep regards.x