Fashion designer Bella Freud pays tribute to Camila Batmanghelidjh
- The funeral service was held at Golders Green Crematorium in North London
Kids Company founder Camila Batmanghelidjh has been hailed as a ‘good girl’ by designer Bella Freud, who broke down in tears as she spoke on the charity chief’s vibrant funeral following her demise aged 61.
Ms Freud, who’s the daughter of artist Lucien Freud, spoke by tears as she addressed the funeral service, telling mourners that Ms Batmanghelidjh ‘listened to kids and handled them in a respectful approach’.
In an announcement learn out by her brother Ardi, Ms Batmanghelidjh instructed these attending her funeral at Golders Green Crematorium in North London to ‘not be unhappy’.
In the message, Ms Batmanghelidjh added that she ‘had a completely good life’ and the ‘alternative to serve superb kids and younger folks’.
Messages written on her coffin by well-wishers included ‘Your spirit will reside perpetually’ and ‘Queen of the South’. Her funeral was awash with color in accordance together with her needs.
Bella Freud (proper) talking through the funeral of Kids Company founder Camila Batmanghelidjh at Golders Green Crematorium
Ms Batmanghelidjh’s household introduced her demise earlier this month, saying she died peacefully in her sleep aged 61 on January 1
Actress Michelle Collins (centre) attending the funeral of Kids Company founder Camila Batmanghelidjh
Ms Freud, who’s the daughter of artist Lucien Freud, spoke by tears as she addressed the funeral service
The white coffin had ‘Queen of the South’ written throughout it and was surrounded by flower preparations
A mourner holds a programme for the service, which was attended by scores of individuals together with some well-known faces
Ms Batmanghelidjh’s household introduced her demise earlier this month, saying she died peacefully in her sleep aged 61 on January 1 after a interval of failing well being.
The former charity managing director, who famously wore vivid clothes, requested attendees in her will to put on color to the service, writing: ‘Under no situation ought to anybody put on black, color is the order of the day!’
Mr Batmanghelidj mentioned his sister’s biggest present was ‘the power to attach with folks one-on-one’.
‘During these moments one would really feel whole love and connection together with her, wiping away a world of ache,’ he wrote in a message for the funeral service.
Mr Batmanghelidj mentioned her aim turned ‘nothing wanting disrupting the social companies paradigm of the late Nineties’, including that her mission, shoppers and employees have been ‘victims of soiled politics in 2015’.
The poet Lemn Sissay gave a studying of his poem Invisible Kisses on the service – which was attended by Alan Yentob, who served as chairman of Kids Company, and different public figures.
EastEnders actress Michelle Collins, who says she met Ms Batmanghelidjh on quite a lot of events, was additionally amongst those that paid their respects.
‘She invited me to her residence and was so welcoming she was an unimaginable girl,’ Ms Collins mentioned in a tribute publish after information of Ms Batmanghelidjh’s demise broke.
Ms Batmanghelidjh’s physique lay in repose for 5 days earlier than the funeral for well-wishers to go to and depart messages of gratitude.
Mourners attending the colorful funeral of Kids Company founder Camila Batmanghelidjh
Ardi Batmanghelidj talking on the funeral of his sister and Kids Company founder Camila Batmanghelidjh
The poet Lemn Sissay gave a studying of his poem Invisible Kisses on the service
Mourners embraced round Ms Batmanghelidjh’s coffin, which was coated in roses and tribute messages
The Iranian-born social justice campaigner based Kids Company in 1996 to help susceptible kids and younger folks in London, increasing to function centres in Bristol and Liverpool.
Her charity attracted a number of superstar backers together with former prime minister David Cameron, Coldplay, artist Damien Hirst and comic Michael McIntyre – and Ms Batmanghelidjh was made a CBE for her work.
READ MORE: Who was Camila Batmanghelidjh?
Batmanghelidjh, founder and director of charity Kids Company, at her London workplace in 2014 (Photo: Shuttertock)
But it was wound up in 2015 after police launched an investigation, which was dropped seven months later, into unfounded allegations of abuse and exploitation, following the printed of a BBC Newsnight report.
In 2021, a bid to ban Ms Batmanghelidjh and 7 ex-trustees from being firm administrators was rejected by a High Court choose, who counseled her ‘monumental dedication’ to younger folks.
In an obituary on her web site, her household mentioned: ‘Until her demise, she continued to work with susceptible kids, who known as her or visited her to debate their traumas, their insecurities, and their challenges.
‘Camila wished to honour these kids with the care and safety they deserved.’
Over the many years, Batmanghelidjh turned a well known determine, being dubbed the ‘Angel of Peckham’ through the top of her success.
The social justice campaigner went on to obtain a CBE for her companies to the charity and younger folks.
Kids Company supported 36,000 susceptible kids, younger folks and households in London and Bristol till it was wound up in 2015.
It attracted quite a lot of superstar backers together with Coldplay, artist Damien Hirst and comic Michael McIntyre.
Funding for the organisation got here from Government grants and companies, alongside common donations earlier than the charity collapsed in 2015 amid a string of controversies.
