Former WCA Chairman, Bede Anadappa, died suddenly at home on 21st November 2003. Here we remember Bede by reproducing some tributes paid by those that knew and worked with him.

The following is the transcript of the eulogy read at Bede's funeral on 1st December 2003:

“We are gathered here today to say goodbye and to pay tribute to a very special man, Bede Anandappa. Bede was born in Sri Lanka. His father was a doctor and as well as working in the main hospital he was responsible for setting up medical stations across Sri Lanka. Bede’s mother was a teacher, and his two sisters followed her into the teaching profession. His brother was an accountant and lived in London for many years.

During his life in Sri Lanka, Bede was employed as a reporter for the Columbian Times.
One of his favourite stories concerned a tiger cub and a leopard cub that he found in the bush. He took the animals home and hand reared them. Bede would put the cubs and his Alsatian dog in the back of the car and go into town shopping. Bede always said with a wry smile that he never seemed to have to push his way through a crowd when he took the animals shopping with him. When Bede decided to leave Sri Lanka he made sure that the two big cats went into a zoo, where they would be properly cared for.

It was Bede’s intention to move to Canada, but he decided to stop over in London to visit his brother. Whilst in London he met Joy and decided to stay here. Bede and Joy had been married for over twenty years.

Although only slight in stature, Bede had the heart of a lion and he was prepared to fight for the things he believed in, particularly when it came to the tenants, leaseholders and residents of this Borough. He fought his corner and never gave an inch. If you needed information on a particular subject, ask Bede; if you wanted funding and did not know how to go about it, ask Bede; he would know what was available and how to apply for it.

He was the Chairman of the Woodlands Community Association for many years, and worked hard to improve the estate for the people who lived there. He was interested in the youth on the estate and bringing the community together. He spent his life serving others.

As the Treasurer of the Harrow Federation of Tenants & Residents Associations, his voice was heard all around the Council. He was determined that the Federation would be listened to and would have a powerful voice in the future of the tenants and leaseholders. We at the Federation will do our best to see that the Federation stays strong and active and that the powerful voice continues to be heard. Bede served on the Appeals Panel for the Education Department and had also been elected onto the Shadow Board of the ALMO as a tenant representative. He was prepared to give his time to serving the people of this Borough in every way he could. Those who knew him respected him and the things he stood for and his many friends loved him as a person. He had a mischievous sense of humour and a twinkle in his eye. He was never unapproachable, and he was a fair and honest man.

Our thoughts and our sympathy go out today to Joy, his wife, who worked with Bede in his endeavours for the community. It was Bede’s dream to see a new Community Centre on his estate, large enough to provide expansion for the Youth Club and a learning centre, with the necessary training facilities required by the residents to improve their learning. He planned to offer gym and fitness training for all ages, computer instruction and Internet access, a drop-in cafe, a crèche and many other facilities. Bede had a dream and the vision and determination to see this dream become reality. All the Associations across the Borough and the Federation must now get together with the Woodlands Community Association to make this dream come true; a fitting Memorial to a true Champion of the People.

Joy has lost her husband and her best friend, but we would assure her that she does not grieve alone. Her many friends on the Woodlands Estate and the members of the Federation will be there for her and will give her their support. We will do everything possible to help her continue with Bede’s works if that is what she wants to do.

It is with heavy hearts that we say goodnight, god bless and sleep in Peace, and we give you our promise that Joy will never be without a friend and your work for the community will continue. The people who had the privilege of knowing him and working with him will never forget Bede. He will always be in our hearts and in our thoughts, and be our Inspiration for the future.”

Eulogy composed and delivered by Mrs. Jo Price, Secretary of the Pinner Hill Tenants’ and Residents’ Association and Secretary of the Harrow Federation of Tenants’ and Residents’ Associations.

"I heard the news and am staggered.

I have known Bede for the last four and a half years, since the Conservative Group on Harrow Council appointed me to the Housing Portfolio. Since then, I have worked with Bede and will miss him for his knowledge and wise counsel.

Recently, we had both been appointed to the Shadow Board of Harrow's ALMO, Spire Community Homes, and I was looking forward to working closely with Bede.

I found Bede to be a gentleman who was always willing to talk to anyone about the Woodlands Estate in particular and about Social Housing in general.

I will miss him on the Council's Tenants and Leaseholders' Consultative Forum and in my life.

I will always remember him."

Cllr Adrian Knowles
Hatch End Ward Councillor and Conservative Housing Spokesman

"When former Chair John Morgan asked me to join the Committee of the Woodlands Community Association, Bede was Vice-Chair. "He's much too busy with his work to come to meetings", said John. Joy was working too, and it was impossible to gain access to deliver paperwork to his flat. One day, in desperation, I mailed something to him from the post-box on the corner. I had never met him.

A few years later, in 1998, I volunteered to be Secretary, and Bede was elected as Chair. Straight away I was plunged into a pile of letters to the council, spending hours with Bede dictating at the old computer in the Community Hall. No department was spared, it seemed: Housing, Environmental Services, Education, Social Services, Highways, as well as the Councillors themselves, the Police, and Tony McNulty, our MP. Bede sought solutions to every issue that affected Woodlands, and spared no effort in bringing these to the attention of those responsible. Before long, residents from all over the estate learned that the quickest way to get a complaint heard was to take it first to Bede.
Soon, he became heavily involved in the Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations, and then the Tenants Participation Advisory Service. An endless round of meetings, seminars, conferences and training sessions followed, some of which I attended with him. He visited residents' groups in other parts of the country, and was always on the look out for funding opportunities and supportive organisations. The pile of paperwork grew and grew; in the end I had to get my own computer. The development of email communication and our website helped to lessen my load, but Bede still preferred to visit people in person, speak to them on the telephone and handwrite letters and newsletter material for me to type.

In addition, he never tired of planning social events, outings and activities for all sections of the community. It is impossible to imagine a more active Chairman. He knew and cared about everything that happened on this estate.
For me personally, I will always be grateful for his kind gesture when I was planning a visit to Sri Lanka with my daughter a few years back. Hearing about this, and wanting us to have only the best experience of his native land, Bede made contact with a friend of a friend in Colombo. A few days after we arrived at our beach hotel, this fellow showed up and took us on a tour of the island, including an elephant sanctuary, the Temple of the Tooth, spice gardens and a colonial tea house. Without Bede's efforts, I would have missed out on some truly memorable experiences, both in Sri Lanka and in Stanmore."

Linda Robinson
Secretary, Woodlands Community Association

"Bede Anandappa took over as Chairman of the Woodlands Community Association in 1998. At the time, issues surrounding the Bentley Wood School and Sitwell Grove parking were high on the agenda. Bede took these in his stride, and after much wrangling with the council, they are 99% completed. Street lighting, litter bins, notice boards, youth club and playing fields are but a few of the improvements he brought. Others are still on the drawing board. Sadly, not enough people appreciated the work he was doing for Woodlands, and for the wider community, but that did not deter Bede. Class, colour and creed were all equal to him: nothing and nobody could stand between him and his goals.

Let us, as a community, petition for some kind of memorial to him, and reinforce it by working together to continue his projects and ideas."

Ron Walsh
Former Chair, Woodlands Community Association

"My first contact with Bede was on the day I moved into Kipling Place. I was still carrying furniture into the house when he appeared from behind a hedge, urging me to enter the garden competition. His manner was persuasive - I entered the competition even though I hadn't yet set foot in the garden (I must thank the former owners for the spectacular hydrangeas); thankfully, I didn't win!

In 2002, my fiance Marion and I accompanied Bede and Joy to the TPAS Conference in Birmingham to accept the TPAS Web Award on behalf of the Community Association. We are both so pleased that we had this opportunity to get to know Bede better; we will miss him as will the whole community."

Max Wurr & Marion O'Neill
Kipling Place, Stanmore

From the Harrow Observer, December 4, 2003:

From the Harrow Observer, November 27, 2003:

If you would like to contribute your own memories of Bede, please e-mail them to the webmaster.