SIR JAMES LINDSAY
1915 – April 22, 2007
Life Stories and Eulogy
Many of you will remember how Sir James threw himself with gusto at the IERD challenge. Without him, it would have been a very different thing, if indeed we could have done it without him at all. I remember John Patterson’s words, when he honoured Jim, probably in the summer of 1984. ‘All of us are no-bodies’ he said. ‘Not Jim. Jim has accomplished things in the world.’ He was knighted for playing a role in the connection between the Indian and British governments after the Independence. He played key roles in various industry bodies and was managing director of Metal Box in India. He taught international management and leadership at Henley and many other places. I remember him talking about a talk he was supposed to do in China. He had expected an audience of 20 or 30, but he found himself addressing an auditorium with several thousand people.
Many of us had a chance to work and travel with him, as he toured the planet tirelessly, gracefully to get support for the IERD, to support our development efforts, to encourage us and many other development initiatives. During the last 10 years, his spirit was fine, unbroken. His words were always encouraging, words of gratitude, never a complaint. He was fine yesterday. A gracious death.
~~ Paul Schirjnen
Remembering Lady Peggy and Sir James’ visits to Bombay. It seemed like a royal visit and yet they were so caring and down to Earth. What a privilege to have been able to know them and to work alongside of them as they opened so many doors for us. With care,
~~ Lynda and John Cock
Yes Lynda. I too remember the Royal visit in India. Lady Peggy visited Chikhale village. It was a day to celebrate the women of Chikhale and surrounding villages. I remember Peggy walking with the village women – they in their most colorful saris. Flowers and lively music filled the air. Peggy was so warm and giving. Thank you Peggy for your grace.
~~ Jeanette Stanfield
LADY PEGGY LINDSAY
May 14, 2018
Yesterday was the funeral of Peggy Lindsay. Alan Berresford and I represented all of us.Her daughter Gail did a fine eulogy in which she included these words written by Peggy granddaughter Jessica Boudville.
Where do I start…today we lost the formidable, undeniable and spectacular force of nature that is Lady Lindsay. The ageless one, with the highest cheekbones around, wordsmith extraordinaire, who worked with the Institute of Cultural Affairs, the UN, an International Business Affairs College teacher, an advocate for women’s education in a time when it wasn’t a trend, still doing Pilates at 94 years old and using Facebook, WhatsApp and Skype! Generous, selfless, always the razor sharp, unflappable one….my Burmese chef, whiskey connoisseur, dog loving, witty, opinionated, funny, feisty grandmother (for those who know my feistiness, I got nothing on her).
The matriarch, who grabbed the world by the lapels – all in her stride, a powerhouse, a fighter and THE true and original BOSS lady, one that I could only ever hope to be a shadow of…who had a life that experienced things our generation could never understand and yet created so much love, entertainment and fun…(and arguments with me in the Tesco discount aisle – no such thing as expiry dates you see?)
Nana, someone I thought of as my friend as a child (when mum wouldn’t bow to my whims), when I ‘stole’ your lipstick (standard) you caught me and didn’t scold me but showed me how to use it as blush too! Genius. (miles ahead of the times). I’d never have known then, that as it turned out, you would truly be a friend and advisor in my adult life, who always supported my nonsensical singing endeavours and London career choices…for that I’m grateful. I know that you would have composed this far more eloquently than I can manage, as your wedding speeches and writings always proved, but I hope you’re now also having cups of tea with Prince and Bowie along with everyone else we miss…..(though you’d probably be telling them all to make less noise/how to best make tea, achha? I wouldn’t want it any other way).
What I do know, is an energy like you, that possesses so much vibrant brilliancy will always burn bright and is impervious to fading in those that had the luck to encounter it. There are hundreds of broken hearts tonight. To say you were one in a million doesn’t do it justice, maybe a trillion would come close.xx
It was a fine occasion. It also felt like the end of a chapter.
~~ Paul Schrijnen