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There
can be few drivers on DaC who if they didn’t know
before, don’t now know the name of Chris Cecil
(J14). In the last issue of Call Sign, Chris’s
friend Dave Birland (H01) told how Chris had
been diagnosed with terminal cancer and given just
18 months to live. That was later reduced to 10
weeks. Then just 2 weeks after we published the
story, the news came through that Chris had passed
away even quicker than expected.. We asked that if anyone wanted to help his wife Gill and two daughters who were suffering because Chris hadn’t worked since Christmas, then they could donate at a one-off collection on EC5. The response to that article has been nothing short of staggering. Those 2 hours alone raised £1270 to which DaC made the total up to £1500. On top of that, drivers virtually besieged Val and Nuala in Driver’s Services to ask if they could donate credits. An account was set up and several thousand pounds have already been donated. Dave also ran a Golf Day, which brought in another £1800 and without knowing the exact details, it is hoped that the total amount will top £6000 – some 10 times more than Dave Birland expected! In addition, word reached the London Taxidrivers Fund for Underprivileged Children who separately presented Gill Cecil with £1000 to help her 4 and 6-year-old children at what must be a very difficult time for them. Chris’s coffin at his cremation on 9 August came into the hall on the shoulders of four pallbearers and to the Queen music of ‘These are the days of our lives’ followed by a moving eulogy from the priest on how the family had coped during this very distressing period. They were at the hospice for the last four days of Chris’ life and because Chris knew what was going to happen to him, that probably made it easier for |
Chris Cecil Dies Surrounded By His Family |
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 Chris Cecil everyone to say their final
goodbyes. The priest mentioned that many had helped,
but specifically mentioned just two names – both
DaC drivers. There was Dave Birland (H01) who had
raised so much and Andy Daniels (A02) who had been
helping Gill to cope. DaC can be proud of these two
guys… |
how Chris had lived his final weeks
and days. Call Sign doesn’t pretend to know where Chris Cecil is now, but we found great comfort that as the curtains drew around the coffin prior to cremation and the priest said a final goodbye, the clouds broke and for a brief moment, the sun shone through a lone stained glass window. Coincidence? We’d like to think not… Alan Fisher
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