Downton Abbey Premiere-Auction

We are delighted to announce that our Patron, Raquel Cassidy, has kindly secured 2 tickets for the forthcoming film World Premiere of the new Downton Abbey; The Grand Finale. These tickets will be auctioned to raise money for both SDCF and Phyllis Tuckwell.

Full details are below and we would like to record our gratitude to both Raquel and Universal for facilitating this wonderful prize.

A spectacular Downtown Abbey Auction prize!

Bid to win two tickets to the world premiere of Downtown Abbey: The Grand Finale & after show party.

Join the stars in Leicester Square for the long-awaited world premiere of Downtown Abbey: The Grand Finale on Wednesday 3rd September 2025.

This is the final film and therefore the last opportunity to share a moment with the makers of Downton Abbey. A celebration that is likely to be moving and, a real honouring of all that Downton Abbey has meant to the fans over so many years.

Thanks to Universal and Raquel Cassidy (aka Phyllis Baxter) we are delighted to be able to offer for auction these money can’t buy tickets. The lucky winner and guest will need to arrive at Leicester Square for 6pm ready for the film to start at 7pm. You will enjoy the film, join cast and crew at the after party and will meet Raquel for photos and a chat!

The amount raised for this prize will be split equally between Raquel’s chosen charities – Phyllis Tuckwell and the Sean Devereux Children's Fund.

To bid now….

 https://www.jumblebee.co.uk/downtonabbey-grandfinale

 

Three "Walks for Sean" on the same day!

On June 22nd, we are delighted to report that we held 3 separate “Walks for Sean”, one in Yateley, one in Brewerville and one in Tappita.

The photos (Liberia) and video (Yateley) below show the great success and enjoyment of the day, all helping us raise (at the time of writing) a little under £5000 to help educate young blind children in Liberia.

We would like to thank all the organisers in both continents, those that took part, both fundraising and donating, and those who have supported in any way to help us raise this money.

Finally, a 4th “Walk for Sean” also took place in Battersea Park on the 20th June, with the pupils of St John Bosco School also raising funds. We will report on this event as soon as we receive the photos.

Maureen's big day at Windsor Castle

We reported recently that Maureen had been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours (June ‘24) and yesterday (16th October) she received the award from HRH Prince William.

Maureen with her much-deserved MBE

Accompanied on the day by Theresa, Tania and their families and friends, this special occasion was rounded off with a celebratory lunch.

As Maureen said when the award was made public, “I am shocked, humbled and deeply honoured to have been awarded the MBE. I accept it on behalf of the Fund, its dedicated trustees, past and present and the very many friends and family who have helped establish, run and support our charity over many years”.

This is a well-deserved award for Maureen and the Devereux family, whose resilience and energy continues to motivate us all to support the continued education of young people in Liberia.

Trustees visit to Liberia-2024

Later this month, Mark and Theresa, along with Suzanne, will be visiting Liberia. These visits are so important for the Fund, allowing as it does an opportunity to get alongside our volunteers and, most importantly, see first-hand the schools and children that benefit from your support.

We will publish a full report on our website when they return, as well as in a newsletter.

In the meantime, and following the successful fund-raising last Friday (11/10), here are a few pictures that remind us all of who those funds directly benefit. It is important to remember that children would not attend school without these funds and the very fabric of the Brewerville school is maintained and enhanced by supporter money.

Maureen Devereux-MBE

We are delighted to announce that Maureen, our Co-Founder, Patron and Trustee, has been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours, 2024 (announced today 15th June).

“I am shocked, humbled and deeply honoured to have been awarded the MBE. I accept it on behalf of the Fund, its dedicated trustees, past and present and the very many friends and family who have helped establish, run and support our charity over many years. Your  generosity and kindness have meant that we have been able to continue Sean’s work in Africa despite the tragic events that befell him and our family. As a result, many destitute and impoverished  children in Africa have benefited.

The essence of Sean lives on in us today more surely than his death, to keep his vision alive and The Sean Devereux Children’s Fund  continues  to help less fortunate  Children in Africa ” said Maureen.


Schools supporting SDCF

In recent days we have been enormously grateful to both Salesian College Farnborough and Blessed William Howard Catholic High School, Stafford for their support for the fund.

In the space of a couple of days, Salesian Farnborough contributed with their Annual Run for Sean and we were given the huge privilege of talking to the entire school in Stafford about the life and legacy of Sean.

Nothing would have given Sean more pleasure than seeing hundreds of young people taking part in these activities, in so doing helping young people in Liberia who live in very difficult circumstances.

Both schools gave their time and raised money and we are grateful to the young people and their teachers who made it all possible.

Salesian College "Run for Sean 2023"

As ever we are very grateful to the Year 7 age group at Salesian Farnborough who once again are taking part in the Run for Sean, this year on October 10th.

This annual event is a vibrant contribution from the staff and pupils at Farnborough and we thank them in advance for their efforts.

If you would like to make a donation of any sort in support of their efforts, you can do so securely by clicking HERE