Treasurer of Quiet Mind Centre in Exmouth has died

Staurt passed away on Wednesday, April 25. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and all those whose lives he touched.

Stuart was born in Ilford, Essex in 1943, and in 1968, he met the love of his life, Bobby, whilst visiting a mutual friend at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

They married and went on to devote their lives to helping others. In 1984, Bobby set up the CanCope charity to offer advice and support to people with cancer, and in 1991, the charity expanded to include all conditions that could benefit from counselling and complementary therapies.

It was renamed the Quiet Mind centre, which has since provided hundreds of thousands of treatments for a voluntary donation. After his wife Bobby’s passing, Stuart took it upon himself to continue the incredible work she had started with the Quiet Mind centre. He poured his time, energy, and resources into the centre, ensuring that it continued to provide the same level of care and support to the community that Bobby had envisioned.

He played a key role in running the centre until his passing. Stuart was known for his unwavering dedication to helping those in need and his selflessness in giving his time, resources and energy to other charitable causes as well as the Quiet Mind centre. He was a dedicated member of the White Eagle community. His passion for the work of Star Action and the Inlight Trust was evident in his commitment to their mission and his unwavering support of their programs.

Nick Flynn, chairman of the Quiet Mind centre said: “Since meeting Stuart over 16 years ago when I was invited onto the board of the Quiet Mind, latterly as chairman, I have always been deeply impressed and humbled by the level of commitment Stuart has shown to the Quiet Mind and a number of other very worthy causes.

“His compassion and energy, wisdom and experience will be greatly missed by us all. Our thoughts are with the Neil family at this time and the board, volunteers and staff of the Quiet Mind will strive to ensure Bobby and Stuart’s legacy lives on.”

Trevor Keenan, counsellor and director at the centre said: “I have known Stuart for a number of years he was always busy helping others both nationally and internationally, working amazing hours yet spent more time thanking or praising others' work, a truly a modest but inspirational leader who will be greatly missed by all who were honoured to know him.”

Adele Searle, secretary and director at the centre said: “Stuart devoted his time and energy to continuing the fabulous work his wife Bobby had started. Stuart was a passionate advocate for mental health and wellness. His legacy will be the community spirit and the amazing support people will continue to receive when they visit the Quiet Mind centre.”

Stuart understood the importance of raising and saving money for the centre, and he was always looking for ways to secure funding and support.

He worked tirelessly to source donations, grants, and other forms of financial assistance and his efforts ensured that the centre continues to provide therapy services for those on low incomes.

In addition to his contributions to the community through his work at the Quiet Mind centre, Stuart was also a talented writer who authored several fictional books about tennis.

He created vivid and compelling characters and explored the themes of love, loss, and redemption, and he was able to capture the essence of the sport and its culture. Stuart used his experiences and knowledge to create compelling stories that were entertaining, insightful and offered a unique perspective on the world of tennis.

The Quiet Mind centre would like to express its gratitude to the staff at RD&E Wonford for their kindness and dedication in providing care and support for Stuart during his recent illness.

Stuart is survived by his son Toby, his daughter Kate and his grandchildren. Stuart was a devoted father and grandfather and spoke about his family with affection and admiration. He will be deeply missed and we offer our deepest condolences to his loved ones.

May you find comfort in the knowledge that Stuart’s memory will live on through the many lives he touched and that his spirit of kindness and generosity will never be forgotten. Stuart’s work will continue to inspire and help those in need. A simple pure cremation and family wake will be held to celebrate his life.

The Quiet Mind centre welcomes donations in Stuart’s memory to support its ongoing work in providing therapy services for those on a low income. www.quiet-mind.org or to Star Action, www.staraction.org