CONGRATULATIONS to Rosie Holliday, our long-serving Head Receptionist, whose wonderful ‘Memory Baubles Ely’ initiative has raised well over £1,000 for local non-profit mental health organisation, Talking FreELY.
Rosie, who has worked at King’s Ely for 38 years and is also Honorary Secretary to the Old Eleans’ Club, came up with the idea in November and encouraged people to have the names of their loved ones – be that friends, family members, pets etc – written on festive baubles, to then be hung on the large Christmas tree outside the school’s Old Palace.
Rosie asked for a minimum donation of £3 per bauble, with all funds raised going to Talking FreELY – a local non-profit organisation which encourages open discussion about mental health in the Ely area.
Students, families, staff members, Old Eleans, friends of King’s Ely and the wider Ely community threw their weight behind the campaign, resulting in more than £1,000 being raised for the organisation – and Rosie says there is still money coming in!
The Mayor of Ely, Councillor Mike Rouse, representatives from Talking FreELY, and local ukulele group, Ukul-Ely, of which Rosie is a member, were among guests who came together outside the Old Palace on December 7th to hang the memory baubles, which were also blessed by our School Chaplain, Revd Dr Ros Lane.
Rosie said: “I am so overwhelmed by everyone’s support. I never thought for one minute we would raise as much as we have for Talking FreELY and I would like to thank each and every person who has bought a memory bauble or donated.
“The memory baubles look absolutely beautiful on the tree and Saturday’s ceremony was quite emotional at times. It would be great to make it an annual event for sure!”
The memory baubles might be up but there is still time to donate. To do so, visit https://bit.ly/2DYDwda