Trisha Silvester Obituary: Charity Founder Dies at 79 2026

Trisha Silvester obituary shares the life of a remarkable single mother, businesswoman, and charity chair who transformed lives in rural Bangladesh. Her story inspires thousands through the Sreepur Village refuge.

Early Life and Charitable Awakening

Trisha Silvester, who has died aged 79, began her charitable journey after watching a television program about Sandra Simpson, a Canadian woman who had established orphanages in Vietnam and Bangladesh. In 1977, Trisha traveled to Dhaka and visited Sandra’s orphanage, a trip that changed the course of her life.

That year she founded Families for Children (UK) to raise funds for the project. At the orphanage, she met two young girls, Sukuri and Hasina, aged two and four. She adopted them and brought them to the UK, completing the family she had long hoped for.

Founding Sreepur Village

In 1981, Pat Kerr, a British Airways flight attendant, visited the orphanage and felt the same sense of responsibility. Together, Trisha and Pat formed a bold partnership. Raising money to buy land, they founded Sreepur Village in 1989, a charity that has offered refuge to thousands of women and children facing poverty and hardship.

The purpose-built village, two hours north of Dhaka, provides sanctuary for destitute families, accommodating some 350 people at any one time. It also offers vocational training for mothers and education for children.

Key Takeaways from Trisha Silvester’s Legacy

• Single mother turned philanthropist – Trisha raised her own children while building a global charity.
• Longest-serving chair – She served as chair of trustees for Sreepur Village for over 40 years.
• Empowerment through employment – Women in the community made Christmas cards sold in the UK, earning a living wage.
• Awarded MBE – Trisha was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2001.

Continued Impact and Memorial

Trisha made regular visits from her home in south London until 2019. The organization, known in Bangladesh as Shishu Polli Plus, continues to change lives. Her daughter, who wrote this obituary, notes that Trisha’s talent for connecting people helped change the lives of mothers and children in rural Bangladesh.

FAQ