TO THE PEOPLE OF THE THE
GAMBIA SHE WAS A FRIEND (A CHILDHOOD FRIEND FOR THAT MATTER) TO THE ORPHANED CHIMPANZEE OF
SULU BOLONG (BABOON ISLAND) SHE WAS BOTH A CUSTODIAN, MENTOR, MOTHER AND A REHABILTATOR.
TO THE MONKEYS OF THE RIVER (BAADIMAAYO) IN MY (NATIVE FULA LANGUAGE) SHE WAS A FRIEND IN
NEED AND A GOOD NEIGHBOUR INDEED.
TO THE ORPHANED CHILDREN OF NIAMINA SHE WAS A MOTHER (A GOOD MOTHER) AND A GOD MOTHER.
TO THE ELDERS OF NIAMINA SHE WAS A DAUGHTER.
TO THE MEN OF NIAMINA SHE WAS A PROVIDER.
TO THE WOMEN OF NIAMINA SHE WAS A RESCUER.
TO THE YOUTHS OF NIAMINA SHE WAS A MENTOR AND AN INSPIRER.
TO QUOTE A CAPTION OF THE 4th FEBRUARY 2008
ISSUE OF THE DAILY TELEGRAPH NEWSPAPER (IN UK), SHE WAS A PIONEER OF CHIMPANZEE
REHABILITATION AND FOUNDER OF THE CHIMP REHABILITATION TRUST (CRT) OF WHICH GAMBIA IS A
ROLE MODEL IN AFRICA.
SHE WAS BORN ON APRIL 19th 1951 IN THE
SEYCHELLES WHERE HER FATHER WAS A FOREST OFFICER. HER FATHER MOVED TO THE GAMBIA IN 1957
WHERE MY HEROINE (I QUOTE AGAIN) HAD AN IDYLLIC CHILDHOOD WITH A HOUSE HOLD OF ORPHANED
WILD ANIMALS. AGED 9 SHE WAS SENT TO DR. WILLIAMS SCHOOL IN NORTH WALES IN THE UK. THE
BULLYING SHE SUFFERED THERE DEVELOP HER EMPATHY FOR THE UNDER DOG AND ESTABLISHED AN
UNUSUALLY STRONG SENSE OF COMPASSION (QUOTATION) FROM HER EXPERIENCE WITH WILLIAM, THE
FIRST CHIMPANZEE THAT CAME INTO HER LIFE IN 1968, MY HEROINE, THE GOOD FRIENDS OF THE
GAMBIA FROM UK, NETHERLANDS & MYSELF HAVE LEARNT AND ACCEPTED THAT THE CHIMP IS A
SENTIENT BEING, JUST LOOKING DIFFERENT BUT STILL NEEDING LOVE AND CARING FOR LIKES ITS
CROSH RELATIVE HUMAN BEING.
FOR THE CHILDREN, MEN AND WOMEN OF SAMBEL
KUNDA AND NIAMINA EAST, THIS HEROINE IN QUESTION WAS “SITELLA” FOR ME SHE WAS
STELLA BREWER MARSDEN SECOND DAUGHTER (OUT OF THREE OF EDDIE BREWER) EDDIE BREWER A NAME
THAT WAS NOT STRANGE IN COLONIAL GAMBIA AND NOT STRANGE EITHER IN YAHYA JAMMEH’S
GAMBIA.
STELLA IS SURVIVED BY HER SISTERS HEATHER AND
LORNA (ALSO GREAT FRIENDS OF NIAMINA AND THE GAMBIA) HER DEAR HUSBAND DAVID MARSDEN AND
TWO SONS JOHN AND DANIEL MARSDEN.
REST IN PEACE STELLA.
She will be greatly missed by so many people.
Despite her obvious discomfort she had a real
sparkle in her eyes when she spoke about the chimps and The Gambia
Stella's life may have been cut short but she
achieved so much that the rest of us feel humbled.
Stella created a sanctuary for chimpanzees at
a time when no one thought it could be done, at a time when no one thought it necessary,
and she made it work. She was an inspiration to us all, and she will be greatly missed.
…an amazingly full and productive life.
The Gambia has benefited from her
extraordinary dedication to her causes of animal welfare and more widely the welfare of
Gambians
...the world has lost a compassionate pioneer
of the highest order and the animal kingdom a true friend…Stella was way ahead of her
time with her chimps and leaves an on-going legacy for every real thinking person to pay
strong heed [to].
What great Stella did in the Gambia at large,
pens cannot write it down from start to end.
She was the first to provide a solution to the
growth in numbers of trafficked chimps in Africa and for this she should be greatly
commended. We are in admiration for the difference she has made to the lives of numerous
animals over the years and to the conservation and welfare of wild animals generally
I am from Kudang the Gambia, my village is a
direct beneficiary of this great woman['s] help.
What an incredible contribution she made to
the world. You must all be so proud of her.
…influence on my life has been so great
that hearing this news makes my heart break…..I will never forget her gentle smile,
the passion for helping conserving wildlife, and the tons of love that she had for
everyone around her.
… has left an indelible and enduring
legacy in that lovely country.
... but what great achievements... I'm sure
Eddie [Stella's father] was proud.
It's good to know that Stella's tremendous
work was recognised with her OBE, and her memory will live on in the Rehabilitation Centre
for the chimps and the Horse and Donkey. She was clearly a remarkable and inspirational
person.
…amazed at how rich and fulfilling her
life must have been. … Stella's life is a true inspiration to so many.
Stella will be very sorely missed by all who
knew her
We have such wonderful memories of Stella and
always had a great admiration for what she achieved in The Gambia.
…words can't describe how helpful, fun
and kind she always was
She was a great woman and great pioneer and
seemed to have such a wonderful family - both human and chimp. Her book was remarkable.
She will be missed by all of us. They don't make Stellas any more.
Stella is the most remarkable person I have
ever met. She deserved a much longer life. Yet she still achieved far more of the things
that really matter, and improved more lives - animal and human - than most of us could
ever hope to in several of our more mundane lifetimes.
I am proud to have known her.
…she was a truly wonderful and remarkable
woman.
I feel very lucky to have been able to talk to
and meet Stella and see what a huge difference she has contributed to the Gambia, …
Stella is undoubtedly one of the most amazing people I have had the pleasure of
meeting…and will never
forget the boat trip to see the chimps with her. A truly inspirational woman …
Stella is truly someone who did not die an
unlived life.
… Stella means Star in Latin, your
Stella's star will shine bright in the world as she has left such a wonderful legacy.
…there are not many Stellas around.
I will always remember the trips across to the
chimps in the boat and Stella's love and knowledge about them, her extended family.
… she had achieved a great deal in her
lifetime and done so much good for so many who could not protect themselves - chimps,
donkeys and horses
Her contribution to so many areas of life in
The Gambia has been so generous and effective that she will be greatly missed. |
Dr Stella Marsden
|
Stella will be deeply missed by all animal
welfareists but particularly so by us African's as she dedicated her life to bettering the
lot of animals on this continent.
I can't begin to explain how deeply impressed
I was by her determination and fantastic will to achieve the impossible.
What a great loss to both the Gambia and the
world as a whole.
…she has a legacy which will live on for
the good of both the Chimps and the country.
…it was a pleasure and an honour to have
met Stella
Stella will be sorely missed by all.
It was, and is, a privilege to have had my
life touched by Stella.
Stella, has left a lasting mark on this planet
of ours, so many people do not, … she will always be remembered, and honoured for
many years to come. She made a difference, she made the world a better place.
…an exceptional and inspirational woman
Stella was a wonderful person, I was full of
admiration for her and she inspired me …... she really helped to cement my feelings
about development work and developing countries, …. Her compassion, outlook and sense
of humour was so refreshing! She will be sadly missed
Stella's whole life right up to her brave
fight at the end is an example to us all.
Stella blazed a trail and unselfishly shared a
beautiful life with so many animals and humans.
The world was a better place for both animals
and humans because of her gentle presence.
We are grateful for everything she gave us
…..Stella was of the most important people our lives and we will miss her…. We
are all poorer for not having her amongst us….
She was one of the pioneers of PASA and her
stories of the work on behalf of chimps, horses and donkeys in Gambia were always
inspiring.
Je garderai d'elle l'image d'une grande dame,
simple, humble mais qui a fait tellement.
Her labour of love will stay with humanity
Stella is vision orientated…the project
she initiated are clear manifestation that she is a hero, willing to develop our
community, these project would play an immense role in the living conditions of the rural
people…Stella's foot marks shall always serve as a memory in the mind of us for ever.
…she is missed by human and chimpanzee
friends spread far and wide and by those who only could read about her great work. I only
wish we had met….
...you committed your lives to the wellbeing
of chimps and the people around camp. The way how the chimp project became the carrier of
a bigger plan for the whole neighbourhood is an example of how conservation should work.
…in the 1970s she was a pioneering
beacon. She invented chimpanzee rehabilitation, and only someone with her strength of will
and vitality could have done so. I am so grateful to have known her...
…she was so forward looking, strong and
thoughtful about the future of the chimps and Badi Mayo and all your projects. What a
marvellous legacy she has left, both through what she achieved and the inspiration of
leadership as well as through the many lives she touched. Stella was such fun….it was
a delight to watch her life unfold….She was truly a star.
Stella touched so many lives, not just chimps
and other animals, but she had a very special way of touching all the people that she met.
We should all be glad having had the privilege of knowing such a warm and wonderful
person.
…her knowledge, love for chimpanzees and
her love for people.
Hard working to a fault she succeeded in
developing a great asset in The Gambia….a superb contributor to positive Gambian
development…Her profound love of animals speaks volumes [for] her love of humanity
itself.
...those who really deserve to live are often
out lived by individuals who deserve less from life and one (myself) is left with a
feeling of guilt….
...I will always remember the magical time
that we spent with Stella at the camp.
Stella waves goodbye
|
Yes! we have lost a Stella who did so much for
the communities, schools, individuals and even fed chimps in the wild forests. For the
layman having concern for the animals in the thick forest may be measured as a meaningless
venture with no earthly reward [but] Stella has left behind a treasure we should cherish,
keep jealously and maintain for posterity.
I hope to visit Badi Mayo again but it won't
be the same for any of us will it?
We are so grateful for every thing that Stella
has done for both chimpanzees and children.
Thank you for all the work she has done in the
Gambia and for all the help given to me over the years
...the unique and special person that she was.
|
She was
truly a wonderful person and one in a million |
|
