Peri’s Bat Mitzvah – the family 2016

Her own family, and the gatherings with the ‘Raymont Clan’ were of highest priority. And she also had several chosen families – such as  the Rosenbusches, the Featherstones and others.

Having lived with the Rosenbusches in Sunnyside, she became their stalwart supporter once they moved to their farm, La Jimena, near Grenada.

For the Featherstones,

“Fay was Kevin‘s godmother and she fulfilled that role very admirably. She was an active member of our family, helped out with childcare, especially when we had all hands full with the regular ‘playdates’ with Sophie and Caitlin twice a week for several years. She also smoothed our any awkwardness after we separated when Kevin was eight. She joined every weekly family dinner, and helped us lay the foundations for smooth co-parenting and an ongoing amicable relationship.” (Alan and Cornelia Featherstone)

“Fay was first of all my friend. She was also a part of our women’s group, the Being group, which met roughly fortnightly over many years. When she knew her “Trees for Life” weeks dates she would “order” us in the group to sign up! We sometimes called her, lovingly, Bossy Boots.
She took it with a smile.
love from Diana“

Being Group 2003 Fay Diana Jacqui Helen Judith Gillian photo Fay Blackburn

Fay was so much more than a friend. She was part of my family, she was a running mate in so many community undertakings, a steadfast collaborator to shape the Caring Community culture for over 25 years … She was a wise councillor, always ready lend a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on, we shared weekly meals for many years and had plenty occasions of fun and laughter. A rare friend indeed, encompassing all these different facets, and then some more. Her death left behind a Fay-sized hole which I still feel six years on. The loss is only ameliorated by the deep appreciation and gratitude for all we have shared. I cherish her presence in my life and having the portrait painted by Janet Banks (see below) in our living room is a touchstone of strength for me on a daily basis.

Thank you Fay! for having been part of my life.

Cornelia Featherstone

On 27th April 2018 Fay was presented with the Moray Community Champion Award following a successful nomination submitted by her friend Beatrix.

Her photo album had lots of group photos, lovingly annotated on the back with all the names of the people in the image.

Her journey began with Experience Week in November 1989, where she met Ros. This started a friendship that lasted for the rest of her life.

Experience Week Nov 1989 photo Findhorn Foundation

Then there was her CAP 1 group 1990-91-92. The first Community Apprenticeship Programme which had replaced the previous Orientation programme. I understand that many of the members of that group are still in touch today via a WhatsApp group.

CAP 1 1990-91-92 photo Findhorn Foundation

And the workshops and trainings which shaped her learning journey.

Training for Workshop Group Leaders Oct 1994 photo Findhorn Foundation

Touch the Earth 1995 photo Findhorn Foundation

Healing Through Art with Karin Werner and Clive Kitson July 1996 photo Findhorn Foundation

Death the Final Healing Newbold House 1998-9

From the joys of the outdoors, especially skiing in her childhood, to her beloved garden on Cortes Island, and once she arrived in the Community she channelled that love into decades of work and volunteering.

Cullerne Gardeners 1992 photo Lynn Barton

As a Findhorn Foundation staff member she became a Cullerne Gardener in 1990 and worked there for several years. During that time she also started volunteering with Trees for Life and as part of that work she set up a pine-cone-drying system in Cullerne to produce Glen Affric Scots Pine seeds for the restoration of the Caledonian Forest. She also propagated Glen Affric aspens.

In 2017 Fay received a ‘Points of Light’ Award’ “which recognises outstanding individual volunteers. The award is given to those who are making a change in their community and Fay Blackburn, from Findhorn, has been recognised for her work volunteering with the Trees for Life”.

Alan Watson Featherstone wrote at the time:

“Fay is Trees for Life’s longest-serving and most-committed volunteer, having begun volunteering with the charity soon after practical work began to help restore Scotland’s Caledonian Forest in 1989. Over the years since then she has given very generously of her time and skills with great passion and enthusiasm, and has pioneered some of the charity’s most innovative projects, such as propagation of the scarce aspen tree from root cuttings and the establishment of ‘gentle weeks’ for volunteers with limited physical abilities. Now well into her 70s, Fay is still volunteering regularly in our tree nursery and tirelessly works to recruit new volunteers and supporters for us. She is one of our star volunteers and a shining example of how much a passionate and dedicated person can contribute on a voluntary basis. I am truly delighted to see her contribution recognised through this important and well-deserved award.”

Click here to read more about it.

Fay was quite famous as Volunteer Workweek Focaliser, especially for her ‘Gentle Weeks’ which Rosemary Benham describes – click here to read her story.

The following photos were taken by Lynn Barton during the first Gentle Week in 1998:

Altbeathe Youth Hostel

Earthshare

From the very beginning in 1994 Fay was actively involved in this Community Supported Agriculture scheme. Mathis Rosenbusch was the driving force behind this inspirational project which started in 1994. As she lived with his family, she was at hand to support not only with the kids but also on the field, and in so many ways behind the scenes.

Findhorn Hinterland

This was another endeavour which Fay was a part of from the very beginning. She was actively involved not only as volunteer in the many work parties but also on a management level. She was part of a group which had been researching green burial options since the late 1990s and was thus instrumental in creating the Wilkie’s Wood Burial Ground. She was the first one to buy a lair and was very proud of the fact that hers was Certificate #1. She was part of the Green Burial Management Group for years.

La Jimena

When the Rosenbusches moved to Southern Spain to create their own organic farm in the Alpujarras, on the Southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, Fay became a regular part-time resident. For many years, she spent 3 months of the year helping with the olive harvest. Click here and you can spot her in some of the images in the Gallery La Jimena.

Fay and Alex in La Jimena Jan 2019

Cullerne Pond 1998

On Cortes Island in Canada she took so much pride and pleasure from growing food for her family. She continued to bring that joy to her work in Cullerne Gardens as Findhorn Foundation staff member, and also the the gardens around her different homes: around her caravan on the Findhorn Bay Caravan Park, or at Meridian in Pineridge where she lived for 17 years.

Gardening expressed her commitment to growing her own food, to having her hands in the earth, to beauty; and in so many ways it was a spiritual practice, putting love and care into the ground.

She also helped out in other gardens, always willing to lend a helping hand. For years she spent a week on Iona in the Spring to help Barbara getting her garden ready for the season. Often she would go back in Autumn to ‘put it to sleep’, before going off to Spain to work in the gardens and with the olive harvest in La Jimena.

From her teenage skiing trip in the Alps, to living in the forest by the shore on Cortes Island and later walking the Scottish Hills she was always up for adventures, big and small.

After her brush with colon cancer she took herself on a round-the-world trip in 1996. Here she combined her passion for sports and wilderness with visiting friends and pursuing a spiritual journey to refocus her life. Her trip started with a visit to Mother Meera in Germany, then she went to the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and India.

When she returned, she wrote down her experiences, photocopied 11 handwritten pages and shared them generously with friends and family.

She wrote in June 1997:

Dear Friends,

I would like to share with you here some of the highlights of the trip I recently completed. I had some really great adventures, and learned a lot about myself, my health, what nourishes me and what stresses me, what I enjoy and what I don’t enjoy! It was a time to really relax, and get a new perspective on the next stage of my life.

We share it here as a flipbook if you want to partake in her inner and outer journeys.

To browse through the letter please use the < > arrows at the left and right of the window. For easier reading, use the buttons at the bottom of the window: use Zoom (the + and – buttons) or Toggle Fullscreen (the four arrows pointing outwards).

Upon her return Fay released her membership in the Findhorn Foundation, and moved in with Marianne and Mathis Rosenbusch.

Over the years Fay continued to travel, not only to see friends and family in Spain, Canada and the USA, but also with her sister Sue on a trip which Sue describes below, and also fulfilling a long-held dream of a cruise to Alaska.

Greece and Switzerland, May/June 2015

By train, across France, Germany, Austria, Serbia, North Macedonia, to Thessaloniki. The night sleeper train through the Balkans was lacking mod cons., but had clean sheets.

Fay with suitcase at Thessaloniki station

Then by bus to Litochoro and up Mount Olympos (not quite to the top), staying at Refuge A, Spilios Agapitos, the first week it opened after the winter. The heating had not quite reached the bedrooms, but the food was good. Everything was carried up by donkeys on the mountain path. Wonderful variety of wild flowers, as Spring is the best time of year to see them.

“Yes this is the path; not much further to the Refuge!”

In Athens we visited our cousins Sheena and Giorgos, who took us to the island of Andros.

Fay on the balcony of Hotel Perrakis, Andros, where she swam in the sea

We had lunch with Laura Shannon and Constantis in a great little restaurant in Athens.

Ferry across to Italy, and train to Interlaken, where we stayed with Bernadette and Christoph. They took us to Hotel Geissbach with waterfalls, overlooking Lake Brienz.

Landwasser viaduct near St Moritz

Then on the Glacier Express, marvellous train ride through the mountains.

Fay reading a French newspaper at Basel station

At Gard de L’Est in Paris we had to cross to Gard du Nord for the Eurostar, and it was not easy to find the train. (Public transport, no taxi, thanks!) Sue said “What shall we do?” Fay said “Trust!” So we did, and found the train back to London, where we stayed in the Youth Hostel on Euston Road, very convenient.

Her motto of waste-not-want-not did not have any hint of stinginess but the generosity of spirit to truly value and care, and a superb skill of making and mending. Whilst at Findhorn she lived that by occupying shared accommodation for most of her years here. First at Cluny Hill, then in Bagend 9+10 in Pineridge, and many years of sharing with families, becoming part of their life.

The only ‘own home’ she had for four years was her beloved caravan, 72 Findhorn Bay Caravan Park, which was small yet treasured. She loved the views over Bichan’s field and the immediacy of nature.

Her sewing and mending skills were much sought after. She sewed curtains, altered clothing and rescued many a jumper and other knitwear. Her claim to fame was that she could mend, and mend again, Jonathan Caddy’s precious kilt socks 😊.

She was a dedicated Taizé leader, whether that was the 8am morning Taizé or the Sunday Taizé Service, these were firm commitments in her weekly schedule which she didn’t miss if she could help it. She was also an active participant in the Taizé leaders’ group, tending to the rota, the song books, the Nature Sanctuary and so much more.

She also took part in the Big Choir and the Georgian Singing Group. The Threshold Choir allowed her to combine her love for singing and her passion for conscious-living-conscious-dying.

GM Rally Inverness 2001

She didn’t shy back from hands-on, putting herself on the line, political action. She was very active during the GMO protests in the early 2000s. And stayed engaged all the way through to the Extinction Rebellion actions.

The photos below were taken in London in October 2019, just a few months before her death (Thank You to Mark Richards, Aurora Imaging). Speaking up for her convictions. making a stand, and supporting others in those actions was a deeply held commitment which she put into practice.

She also dedicated herself to building community culture in many ways. Her contribution to Caring Community culture deserves its own section – see below. As mentioned above, she was a volunteer in Trees for Life and the Findhorn Hinterland Trust. Whenever there was a call out for volunteers, be that for conference rotas or any other kind of event, Fay was there, doing her bit to oil the wheels of community life.

She was a stalwart participant in the Cluny Mosaic Project. She loved the whole concept to beautifying the pool shed and was particularly proud of her very own pillar.

There are too many contributions to list them all – but if you can think of a story which we have missed – please add it in Comments below.

In all the many different aspects, over 25 years she helped shape the infrastructure, and developed the skills and culture we enjoy today. After her cancer journey in 1997, she released her staff position with the Findhorn Foundation and earned her living as paid carer for many over the years. One of the first ones was Alan Jacobsen and in her photo album we found this cut-out from the Rainbow Bridge 12th December 2008. She had noted in the bottom right corner “I was his personal carer for 10 years. Fay.”

She also looked after many others over the years. In her chapter in Growing People, (compiled and edited by Kay Kay in 2001) she described her experiences with Winnie.

At times she coordinated several care teams simultaneously, juggling rotas, payroll, and carer’s training in addition to doing care work herself. She had become an expert in SDS (Self-directed Support) administration and thus created sustainability and ease for clients, families and care teams.

Not only that, but she was one of the most active volunteers with the Community Helpline, the People Care Circle, and Curriculum for the 4th Age education. From 2011 we undertook monthly session to learn with each other and with many community members to put in place all the many different aspects which would enable us to support someone to be cared for in their own home, as that was what most wanted.

Following the Conscious Living Conscious Dying conference in April 1998 Fay became very actively involved with learning more about death and dying. She attended many workshops and trainings with Phyllida Anam-Áire.

Death the Final Healing Newbold House 1998-9 photo Fay Blackburn

These trainings, attended by several Community members resulted in the setting up of the Alanna Trust which Fay supported as one of the committed volunteers.

Fay’s funeral Feb 2020 photo Jonathan Caddy

1942
Born at home with private nurse, older brother Chris aged 7

Food rationing

age 5
To Primary School – Waverley School Huddersfield, Yorkshire

I enjoyed school, but was quite mischievous! with neighbour Primrose

Spent 3 months with grandparents

age 7
My sister Sue was born. Au-pair girl arrived from Switzerland

1950
Enjoyed ballet lessons, gymnastics, piano lessons

age 10
Went to Switzerland SKIING with Hirst cousins

Skiing again – Lovely!

1955 – age 13
To Secondary School, Queenswood, Hatfield, Hertfordshire
I enjoyed boarding school, lots to do – sports, singing

1960 – age 18
Left school. Got job in Hudds Royal Infirmary. Didn’t like it at first …
Didn’t enjoy studying, and felt university would be too much hard work!
I was not very responsible!! but had fun with friends

age 21
To London
Started going out with Charles
Started doing ON-CALL work, more interesting

Ann and I got a flat in Chelsea

Getting bored with Charles
2 interesting lab jobs
Enjoying London better than Hudds

1967 age 25
Fed-up with ENGLAND
Heather and I sailed to New York!

Got lab job in Montreal 😊
Married ANTONY after 6 months
Continued lab work, lots of skiing

1970
Birth of Emma
Enjoyed being a mother. Gave up work

To Vancouver, Birth of Alex
Moved to Vancouver by train
My parents came over to stay for Alex’ birth
Enjoyed Alex and Emma at home …
Antony fed up with Vancouver

1974 To Cortes
Bought property on Cortes Island
Built a beautiful wooden house
Kids in lovely school…

1976 age 34 Divorce
Antony and I split up ☹
Enjoyed my growing confidence
Worked in garden at Cold Mountain Institute (CMI)
Did courses in CMI

1980
David moved in … singing

1982 age 40 to Edmonton
Left Emma and Alex on Cortes with Antony
David and I bought a house in Edmonton
Emma + Alex + Autumn + David Jr arrived
Chaotic year with 4 kids
left David

1986 Vancouver
Back to Vancouver – me & Emma
Alex went to Victoria to Antony
Alex came to Vancouver
Emma to Israel. Alex flying
Alex quit school. Emma with Jono

1989 age 47 We all left Vancouver! I went to Findhorn
Emma to Montreal University
Alex hang-gliding in California

1990
Chris R + family arrived in Findhorn
I did membership – CAP 1 Cluny
Started TFL [Trees for Life] Weeks
Cullerne Garden Living in Park

1995 age 53 Cancer
Dr Gray’s Hospital
World Trip
Left FF Membership

1997
Moved to Marianne and Mathis

1998
Emma’s Wedding

1999
Moved into my own caravan
Jan NewBold workshop
March Iona stayed at Barbara H
March Sue, Emily, Jeremy came to stay
April TFL Gentle Week – Chalets + Plodda
May M&M -> Orkney – holiday
May working at Plodda Lodge 2 week – alone

2000
Cory’s Birth

2003 age 61
Peri’s Birth
Stroke, moved into Meridian

2008
Death of Alan Jacobsen

2010
Canada Family Trip
Alaska Trip with Sue
My 70th Birthday Parties
Dundreggan Nursery Opens
Frances Ripley’s Death [2014] Cory’s Bar Mitzvah
Florida Trip

Went to La Jimena 3 months
Perri’s Bat Mitzvah
Went to La Jimena 3 months
Swiss Trip with Sue

2017
Start of arthritis
Went to La Jimena 3 months

2018 age 75
Arthritis R foot
Mathis’Death
Went to La Jimena in August

2019
Went to La Jimena 3 months