Tributes have been paid and a commemorative plaque unveiled to Matthew Project founder and visionary Peter Farley at a recent event at the project’s Recovery Hub in Norwich.
Attending the event, on April 28, were friends and family of Peter, who died last year. Also staff past and present plus volunteers and members. Guests of honour were patrons Henry Cator, OBE, DL and The Lady Dannatt, MBE. HM Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk.
Sarah King, Social Enterprise Manager, at the Matthew Project, said: “It was a wonderful afternoon, full of smiles and shared memories, with a delicious afternoon tea. We heard speeches from Stephen Lock – Vice Chair of Trustees to TMP, Caroline Gaskin and Mark Farley – two of Peter’s four children and Rachel Chapman – Interim Chief Executive Officer.
Finally, Lady Dannatt and Peter’s wife Margaret Farley unveiled the plaque for guests to a rapturous round of applause.
Peter’s daughter, Caroline Gaskin, paid tribute to her father saying: “Dad was truly honoured when he was asked to be a Patron. He would come home from the meetings very fired up about the Matthew Project’s work and full of enthusiasm and pride that the charity continued with the same ethos with which he started it.
“It brought him so much joy to be able to help so many people and it brings his family great comfort and pride that his legacy lives on through the work that the charity continues to do.
When I look back to myself, aged 18 in 1980, most of us young folk didn’t have the tools then to recognise our trauma and certainly didn’t have the language to express it, let alone the concept that anyone would listen.
“We really have come a long way and so it really is wonderful to acknowledge what you are achieving and doing here and that Dad’s vision to support young people in need really does live on.”
Pictured above are The Lady Dannatt, Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk and Margaret Farley after unveiling the plaque (inset).
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