Lee died in Southampton hospital on Monday 24th April, 2023, at 11.15 am after having been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in early March.

Lee travelled back to the UK for tests however, the tumour was discovered to be inoperable and Lee died a few weeks later.

Thank you to Samantha Stevenson for enabling us to write this tribute to Lee by talking with us at such a sad time.

A chilli-growing, dart-throwing, Pompey fan.

Born on 16th March 1968 in Portsmouth, Lee described himself as a chilli-growing, dart-throwing, Pompey fan.

He loved his Portsmouth football team where he, along with his wife Sam, had a season ticket.

He was a wines & spirits buyer for Batleys Cash and Carry and loved the job. Lee was known for his banter and quick wit and enjoyed a good-natured relationship with the reps.

He loved playing darts in Portsmouth and, when Lee and Sam moved to Çalış 6 years ago, he started playing for Bambu, and then Cahide.

He loved gardening and learnt about cactus from his Nan, and garlic and chillies from his uncle.

Lee was well-known for his Facebook group – An English Gardener in Çalış – and helped and advised many people in Çalış on gardening in a hot climate. He could often be seen cycling along to give people herbs, plants or seeds.

There was a comment on the Facebook group that made Sam laugh. Someone had said that they didn’t know Lee but had met him – as he met everyone outside Cahide where he gave them some herbs (no name just herbs). That was Lee, helping and giving people things, but he wouldn’t have really made conversation, just an “enjoy the plant” and off he would go his bike 🤣. 

Lee wrote a popular gardening column for Fethiye Times for over a year. He was a pleasure to work with.

He was such a chilli lover that he organised the annual Chilli Eating competition in Çalış.

Lee is described by family and friends as a gentle giant, a kind and caring man who was always willing to help others. He was quick-witted and funny, although most of the time he would just sit back and observe.

A minute’s silence was held for Lee at Cahide on Monday 24th April in the evening. Click here to watch the video.

A message from Sam

“It is with a massive broken heart and great sadness my beautiful caring blue eyed husband and best friend Lee Stevenson sadly passed away.

Lee had only been poorly for 5 weeks and was diagnosed in Turkey, but we decided, as we knew it was really bad, to come back to the UK. He died peacefully on Monday morning with sam and friends by his side, listening to his favourite music – Wings of a Dove by Madness. Right up until Saturday he was still eating his favourite things including garlic and hot sauce, and telling jokes and being Lee.

I would like to say thank you to everyone who has been there for us travelling up and down everyday with me making sure I spent all the time I could with him, I couldn’t have done this without some amazing special people and friends who are our family.

Seeing all the tributes to him is heartbreaking, but it is also comforting at the same time to see how much he was loved.

I’m totally overwhelmed with all the support and the kind words, and the minutes silence the darts teams did on Monday. I was blown away.

We had a fantastic happy 18 years together and 6 wonderful years in Turkey. No regrets! I miss him so much”  ~ Samantha Stevenson

Here are just a few of the messages that have poured in from his friends.

“Lee was a very giving person to the community and got involved in a number of different things that benefitted the community as a whole. However the thing I remember most about Lee was that he was a joy to be around. He had a ‘joie de vivre’ that rubbed off on everyone. He will be sadly missed.” ~ Nigel Barry

Nigel also wrote this poem for Lee.

“Sleep peacefully now our gentle giant, chilli man, garden lover and all round good hearted, funny fella… so glad we got to spend special moments in time with you Lee Stevenson …. fly high blue eyes ” ~ Deborah Smith

“I am so sad to hear about my friend and work colleague from Nurdin and Peacock, although we lost touch through our busy lives I did often see his funny posts on line and what an amazing life he had abroad with his wife.

We were drinking partners in the late eighties and we would meet up most Tuesday’s for a beer down the Nell Gwyne and bring back a curry to my mum’s afterwards.

I am so glad we did get in contact and spoke over the phone at one stage.

Rest in peace good buddy, I will be there for you on you on the 9th.

Good memories to be shared with everyone and hope to hear some of his stories told by others. RIP my dear friend.” ~ Lee Weeks

“Today I have lost a true, remarkable and unique friend. A gentle giant, kind and generous. We were both big kids at heart and when we visited your home in Turkey it was like we had never been apart. We would always pick up with the silliness of our childhood years! We’ve had so much fun and our similar sense of humour had each of us in stitches at the annoyance of others and blaming each other. It was always like turning the clock back when we met. We knew each other as toddlers from the tough Somers Town days and even moved to Gatcombe Park within weeks of each other, the gang was back together again. We maintained contact over the many years and I saw you as the big bro I never had, you were 3 weeks older than me ! You made Tina, Ash and Chloe laugh with your one liners, cheesy jokes and windy moments which brought a choking smile to everybody’s face with eyes rolling. Such a great big softy and I feel privileged to be your friend. Until we meet again, sleep tight Tomato man, keep those flowers, fruit and veggies well-watered up in the sky xx” ~ Steve McCloud

Photo from Steve McCloud: Queens Silver Jubilee 1977. Lee with the shocking blonde hair and Frankenstein tee shirt.

When Lee met Dom!

When Lee met Dom and sold him giant pumpkin plants at Cahide Bar, he never came back and said don’t get done, get Dom! So Lee must have sold him the right plants 🌱 🤣💔

Lee’s funeral will be held on Tuesday 9th May at the Oaks In Havant. There will be a live stream in Cahide Bar at 13.30.

In Loving Memory

Lee Stevenson

1968 – 2023

The post A tribute to Lee Stevenson appeared first on Fethiye Times.

Featured image: A certain special guest added a little colour to the launch of the new PAWS HQ, with “Tigger” (Dean Baker) in time to meet the muktar. 

A new era of animal welfare began in Yeşilüzümlü this week with the official opening of the headquarters of a new-look charity dedicated to the care of the community’s street dogs and cats.

Animal Care Üzümlü (ACU) has been rebooted as Providing Animal Welfare Support (PAWS) with a new mission statement promising that the organisation will work with local people to ensure a safe, happy and healthy life for the village’s street animals.

Muktar, Erkan Arican, was on hand to cut the ribbon to open the new HQ and “donation station”, which will be manned by volunteers initially every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 11 am and 3 pm.

Additional days and longer hours may follow if demand and manpower increase over the summer months.

Located in the village centre between the Friday market and the main village square, the unit will offer second-hand clothes, footwear, books, DVDs, jewellery and handicraft items donated by supporters.

A small crowd gathered at the headquarters on Wednesday, helping to ensure a brisk first day, with money raised covering feeding, neutering and veterinary expenses for the animals. There was also moral support from fellow animal charity HAYED based in Fethiye.

PAWS president, Jo Steels, says the official relaunch of the new-look charity is scheduled for Saturday, April 15, but there is already considerable momentum behind the initiative.

“I think the most important thing is the forging of a new partnership which has helped us really get people involved,” she said. “Although it’s great to have a supportive management board behind me, it’s not just about a small group.

“We’re fortunate to have the support of local businesses as well as volunteers of all nationalities. It’s great that we have also been able to draw on local expertise to help with our communication strategy, branding, promotion and online presence.”

After next month’s official relaunch, PAWS will arrange a monthly community fund-raising event with details in advance published on the charity’s Facebook page.

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She welcomes you with open arms and a huge smile, serves an endless supply of Syrian tea or coffee,  along with delicious food and chats with you with enthusiasm.

Life in this modest Fethiye home seems happy and content.

Safsaf’s story

Safsaf lived in Damascus, Syria, with her husband, Morhaf, and small daughter, Leen. She had just discovered that she was expecting a second child. She was a primary school teacher and Morhaf was a painter and decorator. They had just bought a new house and were working hard to make it a home where they could bring up their young family.

From everyday life to fear

The civil war brought an end to all of that. The lives of Syrians had gone from everyday life to revolving around fear.

Things became so bad that in 2014 after Morhaf had been kidnapped and his brother killed by a bomb, Safsaf and Leen fled Syria to seek refuge in Turkey.

Safsaf gathered what possessions she could carry and, with year-old, Leen, walked and took the occasional bus from Damascus to Aleppo. From there she crossed the border to Osmaniye in Turkey.

“All I had was two bags with a few possessions and the equivalent of 600TL in cash. There were bombs going off at the border crossing and a soldier pointed a gun at my head and they took Leen. I was screaming as I didn’t think I would see her again”

Turkey

In Osmaniye, Safsaf officially registered as a refugee to be able to benefit from health care and schooling.

Morhaf was fortunate enough to be released by his captors and joined Safsaf and Leen in Osmaniye, where they were staying with a friend.

Although they felt safer in Turkey, Morhaf needed to find work to support his family so he set off walking and thumbing lifts (where he could), to Fethiye, a journey that took him one month.

Morhaf found casual work and a home in Fethiye and sent for Safsaf and Leen to join him.

Safsaf was able to speak some English when she arrived but didn’t understand Turkish. The family were alone in a strange country with no friends or extended family, and very little furniture or possessions.

Two years and five months later…

Today, Safsaf speaks almost fluent English and is learning Turkish. Five months after her arrival in Fethiye, her Mum, Dad and youngest sister made the 20-hour journey by boat, via Beirut, to join them. Zain was born five months after her journey from Syria began.

With the help of people living locally, Safsaf has made a life here for herself and her family, along with many friends.

She is now active in helping other families in the relatively small Syrian community that has settled in the area over the past couple of years.

T.C. Safsaf Kadri

There are over 3 million Syrian refugees in Turkey. The Turkish government made a decision to give Turkish Citizenship to 1000 of these refugees and Safsaf was chosen to apply.

“The best day in my life”

On 22 August 2017, Safsaf and her family received their Turkish Citizenship (Kimlik). They were the first of 1000 to receive it.

“That is the best day in my life new start thank you, my god, thank you State of Turkey, thanks to all the friends who supported me here. Thank you, ladies.  I love you so much I will not forget this day. Thank you Turkey” – Safsaf Kadri

The heartache behind the smile

Although Safsaf and her family now have a new life and a safe place to stay, she is still haunted by memories of the death and devastation she witnessed in Syria and desperately worried about the members of her family who are still there.

The post Safsaf’s story – the heartache behind the smile appeared first on Fethiye Times.