Words for Vanessa
Comemorative Tree Planting by the University of Bangor
on December 3, 2006
In a ceremony to celebrate Nessie's life and achievements, representatives of the Universities of Bangor and CATIE, along with friends & family, planted a golden ash tree at Henfaes Research Centre, a beautiful farm near the Menai Straits with a grand view of Anglesey and the mountains.
The ceremony began with the welcoming words of Dr. David Wright from the University's School of the Environment & Natural Resources. The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bangor, Professor Merfyn Jones, then spoke words commemorating Vanessa's life and academic achievements, followed by Dr. John Beer from CATIE in Costa Rica. Dr. Beer added his words in praise of Vanessa, and announced that the planned joint Doctorate scholarship will first be awarded in 2007 in the form of a MSc scholarship running for 2 years, while funding and other details related to the 4-year Doctorate Scholarship are being settled. It is hoped that the PhD scholarship will be up and running by the end of academic year 2008/start 2009. Read more about the scholarship here.
After a few words from Vanessa's sister, in which she underlined that every action that we take in our lives, however little it may seem to us, promotes the realization of Vanessa's dreams of a better world, the group moved to the windy outdoors, where the ash tree was symbolically planted and the plaque unveiled. Vanessa's mother, Jutta, also thanked all who had come, all those who have supported the family so caringly in the past months, and for making the scholarship possible.
Further thoughts were then shared back indoors, from Dr. Bianca Ambrose-Oji (U. of Bangor), Carl Hughes, Maya Vaughan, Joana Coutinho, Lee Dawson. Joana Coutinho read a letter on behalf of Steve Tyreman, and an old seafaring song was sung - rather tearfully, but nonetheless courageously, by Ness' friends.
The group then moved to a nearby inn for lunch, and those disposed to face the elements (which had whipped themselves up into a furious frenzy!) walked up to the Aber Falls to get wet in the spray of the roaring water masses.
Fotos of the event can be viewed in Ness' Albums.