This site is a tribute to Stella Beamon, our Fairy Queen. Stella was born in Bournemouth on 07/09/1929, and died in St Luke’s Hospice on 09/09/2019, just two days after her 90th birthday. 

Stella was a legend. There’s no other way to put it. She was the grand matriarch of our family, the hub around which we all revolved. She radiated love and warmth and understanding, and travelled through life collecting more and more people who loved her back. Through the years she quickly became Mum or Nan or Auntie to all of our partners, a testament to her extraordinary ability to connect with everyone. She adored babies and children and was the best mum and Auntie, the most magical Nan, and later the most adored and treasured Great Nanny. She lit up when she was around little ones, and could instantly captivate them with her songs and stories and inimitable teddy voices. She became the Fairy Queen in a game she invented over 40 years ago, and stayed it forever more. I think we all still believe in it. She loved telling people about her alter-ego, and signed many birthday cards and all her recent paintings as FQ. She retained a childlike spirit all through her life and always wanted to learn more about the world. In her retirement she was able to travel and had adventures all over England, Europe and North Africa, especially in her beloved Italy. 

Stella outlived many loved ones in her long life including three sisters, Margarita, Jean, and Jessie, her husband and soul mate Harold, her adored niece Lynda, and recently her best friend Joan. She was the sort of person who looked after everyone, and nursed many others through illness. She was gentle and sensitive but as strong as you can imagine underneath it all. She lived through WW2, staying in Harrow while her sisters were evacuated, and we have all loved hearing the amazing tales of her childhood. Her life was hard at times, but she was the sort of person who always knew what was important. She took adversity on the chin and had deep gratitude for the joys life gave her. We all learned more than a few life lessons from her.   

She hated to miss out on anything, and by her 80th birthday decided she had to be on the internet like her grandchildren. We bought her a tablet and she became a skilled silver-surfer. She made even more friends on Facebook, and spent hours chatting to people who grew up near her. She would love the fact that she’s finally got her own website!

Stella was kind, clever, insightful, generous spirited, funny, fun, silly, understanding, charismatic, and the best company you could ever ask for. She was strong, gentle, positive, active, interesting, brave, modern, adventurous, honest and true. She was, quite simply, perfect. She was magic. 

We are asking for gifts to St Luke’s in Stella’s memory because they cared for her so well in the end stages of her life. As well as dying there she also had two lots of respite care during her illness. She said they treated her like a queen (she was one, of course), and that she felt safe there. You could see how relaxed they made her feel. The staff could not have been more kind, gentle, or attentive. They were deeply aware of her needs, both physical and emotional, and took the time to sit and chat which was her favourite thing in life. We know that Stella would want us to raise money for this special place to ensure that others in her position can benefit from the wonderful care she received. And doing so will help us to keep her memory alive. Thank you.