Lilian

Lilian Mina, the chairman of the Royal Hall Restoration Trust has lost her battle against cancer. She died on Tuesday April 22 in hospital in Leeds.

Mrs Mina led the public appeal for the Royal Hall, helping to raise almost £2.5m towards its £11m restoration, and she gave Prince Charles a guided tour when he officially opened the refurbished Royal Hall in January this year. He famously described her as a 'national treasure' for her untiring efforts to help return the Royal Hall to its former glory.

Mrs Mina, who was also chairman of Harrogate Civic Society, was awarded the MBE in the New Years Honours for her remarkable fund raising.

The Royal Hall will have its public opening on Sunday, when the Halle Orchestra performs, followed by a banquet for all the supporters and donors of the Royal Hall refurbishment.
The evening is likely to be dedicated to Mrs Mina, and tributes have already started to pour in.

Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam said: "It was Lilian's gift that whenever she believed in something, she became a determined enthusiast. The entire community will surely mourn her passing. It certainly owes her much."

Public tributes to Mrs Mina will be added to this site, and we also hope as many people as possible will add their own tributes to a remarkable lady who achieved so much.

Mark Pallant - Director of Music, St. Aidan's Church of England High School    Date: 08/05/2008 21:46:46
Those of us who are actively engaged in encouraging young people to understand and make music, to appreciate our artistic heritage and to unlock future potential owe a great debt of gratitude to Lilian Mina. Thanks to her enormous sense of heritage and vision, which carried everyone along with it, we have again an incredibly splendid Royal Hall which both speaks evocatively of the past and points to a bright future. The musical youth of Harrogate will surely appreciate what Lilian, and others, have done for them in ensuring that they continue to have available to them an excellent concert venue which they can be proud of, as previous generations have. Also as a member of the Elgar Society, I would wish, on its behalf, to record our heartfelt gratitude Lilian for that sense of history and civic pride which was hers in abundance and which led to this glorious hall, which resounded to Sir Edward Elgar's music many times, being restored to the glorious building which he would have recognised. Lilian has enriched the lives of all of us in Harrogate and its community simply by having been here.

Russell Gittins    Date: 05/05/2008 11:35:30


Some people live for less time than others, but live life so completely that it imparts on others'.






PAM GRANT - GRANTS HOTEL    Date: 30/04/2008 21:54:12
I HAVE KNOWN LILIAN FOR NEARLY TWENTY YEARS AND EVERYTHING SHE HAS TACKLED IN LIFE SHE HAS DONE WITH COMMITTMENT AND ENTHUSIASM. SHE, WITH GREAT SUPPORT FROM HOWARD HUGHES, SAVED THE ROYAL HALL AGAINST ALL THE ODDS. SHE LIVED HER LIFE WITH GLAMOUR AND DIGNITY AND BORE HER ILLNESS BRAVELY. LILIAN HAS LEFT US A WONDERFUL LEGACY AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET HER.

Sue & Pete Finan    Date: 29/04/2008 22:08:35
We feel privileged to have met such a dynamic and stylish lady. Her contagious enthusiasm motivated many people to contribute to her cause. She is a superb example to our community of how to 'make a difference'.
Our thoughts are with her family at this sad time.

Josie S    Date: 28/04/2008 11:24:16
My thoughts are with Lilian's family at this time. Lilian was a formidable, yet a very gracious, warm and funny lady. It was a pleasure to have known her.

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