A former refugee, who honoured her husband’s memory by making a donation to a cancer foundation has now donated another £5,000 in the name of her late father-in-law.
Jamnaben Tailor, aged 89, has asked the charity to spend her gift on new equipment to benefit patients at Rosemere Cancer Centre, Lancashire and South Cumbria’s specialist cancer treatment and radiotherapy centre at the Royal Preston Hospital.
Jamnaben, who was forced to flee Nairobi as part of the Asian exodus of Kenya following its independence from Britain in the 1960s, arrived in Preston with husband Dullabhbai with little more than the clothes she was wearing.
After donating in memory of her husband she has now given money in the name of his father, Govindbhai Tailor.
Govindbhai Tailor, who lived in the Indian village of Kathor near the city of Surat, died from cancer when he was 80-years-old.
Jamnaben’s eldest son, Ishwer Tailor, who is president of Preston’s Gujarat Hindu Society, said: “My mother and her younger sister Kasiben married two brothers - Govindbhai’s sons - my father Dullabhbai and Sukhabhai, my uncle.
“My dad, who like my grandfather was a tailor by profession, was already working in Africa and came back to India to marry my mum.
“My aunt and uncle remained in India to look after Govindbhai and my grandmother Daviben but my dad supported them, firstly from Africa and then England, by buying them a house and sending money to them. My dad was very much at the hub of the family.”
Mr Tailor added: “My aunt and uncle, who have both now passed away, were obviously very close to my paternal grandparents.
“They were also very close to my parents, especially being siblings. My parents visited India numerous times to see them and they came to Preston on holiday.
“My mother now feels making this donation is a fitting tribute to Govindbhai and also, to my aunt and uncle for the care they gave to him and my grandmother.
"It also recognises the impact of cancer on local families and need to show support for them too.”
Jamnaben (second left) with her late husband Dullabhbai (first left) and sister and sister-in-law Kasiben and brother-in-law Sukhabhai; (below) Govindbhai in whose name the donation to Rosemere Cancer Foundation is being made. He is pictured his wife Daviben.
Jamnaben, who has two younger sons, a daughter, six grandsons, three granddaughters and seven great-grandchildren, chose to support the renal unit in her first donation after Dullabhbai, who worked as a tailor at Fishergate’s DT Jones, developed kidney problems as a result of diabetes and had go to undergo regular dialysis.
He passed away in 1995 but on his and Jamnaben’s arrival in Preston, they had been welcomed and initially looked after by the city’s Indian community.
Dan Hill, chief officer of Rosemere Cancer Foundation, said: “We are extremely grateful to Jamnaben and her family for making this donation to us on top of their previous donation.
"They are testament to the importance of family and community support as essential to a better future for everyone.”
Rosemere Cancer Foundation works to bring world class cancer treatments and services to cancer patients from throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria being treated not only at Rosemere Cancer Centre but also at another eight local hospital cancer units across the two counties.
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