TEN more worthy causes have shared more than £5,000 in donations from a memorial fund to the man who set up the Ross fishing empire – and there is still more to come.
The first batch of funding from the £50,000 John Ross MBE Community Trust Fund – set up after Mr Ross' death – was handed out to 11 beneficiaries in August 2011, after more than 100 requests were sent to the Telegraph.
And now, his widow Gill Ross has handed out 10 more cheques worth a total of £5,400 to local groups and charities, bringing the total awarded so far to more than £35,000. Among the latest to benefit from the fund were:
Care 4 All – £500
Grimsby Food Kitchen – £250
Duncombe Street Residents' Association – £500
Grimsby and District Fibromyalgia Support Group – £300
Nelson House Residents – £250
Scartho Community Garden – £500
Treats Lincolnshire – £200
Green Heart – £900
16th Grimsby (St James) Guides – £1,000
Immingham Amateur Boxing Club – £1,000
Gill, of Devonshire Avenue, visited all of the groups to personally hand over their grants and said that their work helps her feel positive again after losing her beloved husband in May 2011.
She added: "The people I have met are so passionate and energetic about the things they do to benefit our local community that you can't help but be inspired by it.
"I only wish that John could be here today to see it, as he always said 'If I can help someone, someway, I will' – and he was always true to his word.
"It is a real privilege to be able to decide where this money goes and to help local groups, as John was always passionate about this area, which everyone who knew him knows.
"Losing a partner is one of the hardest things anyone has to go through because, no matter how many friends and family members you have, the person you share everything with is gone.
"John was so interesting and good to talk to that every day was stimulating – but I no longer have that every day and it can be bitterly hard to accept.
"But speaking to these people and reading their letters about the importance of what they do and their enthusiasm for it has allowed me to be positive again."
John, who was High Steward of North East Lincolnshire, died aged 76, following a fall at his home. He had suffered from Parkinson's disease for several years.
In his younger years, John built up the highly successful Ross fishing empire, which was founded by his grandfather, Thomas, and was also on the board of Cosalt, where he was chief executive.
When he passed away, his son and Gill's stepson David pledged to allocate £50,000 to the John Ross MBE Community Trust Fund, with the possibility of extra money being added in the future by the David Ross Foundation.
Gill added: "There is still something left in the kitty and I look forward to reading about more good work from the people within our community who are like shining lights for many of us."
