Help for your heart health

We are very sad to announce the passing of one of our original Heartlink members Dave Matthews. 

Dave joined when Heartlink was established by Professor Kooner in 1994 at Ealing Hospital.  He played a significant role in the early days of Heartlink and participated in many aspects of the group as a member of our first committee. He took the council driving test, which allowed Heartlink to hire council minibuses to take members to visit different places of interest. On one occasion he took responsibility for taking a group of Heartlink members to the Tower of London to take part in the British Heart Foundation Charity Tower Jog to raise funds for them. He also played a huge part in running the annual Heartlink Christmas Party.

Dave was a long distance lorry driver after leaving the Merchant Navy, and subsequently became an excellent welder, working at CMF in Feltham.

  Dave’s wife Llyn was also founder member of Heartlink, and they both remained members. They lived in Greenford and were married in 1973. They both passed away peacefully at home, Llyn in 2020 and Dave on 7th November this year.  

Our previous Chairman Trevor says ‘ Dave visited me on various occasions when I was injured after an accident at work, helping me with my recovery, for which I shall always be grateful’. This sums up Dave, an amazing supporter and good friend to many Heartlink members. Our condolences go to his family and friends.

Heartlink made a great impact at a huge gathering of worshippers at Southall‘s Abubakr Mosque on Friday 24th October.  Heartlink Trustee and Ealing Hospital Heart Consultant, Dr Nabeel Ahmed, arranged the invitation and addressed the entire congregation about the importance of heart health and how to reduce health risks, just before Jummah prayers. 

Meanwhile a team of our volunteers ran an information stall in the Mosque entrance, giving out British Heart Foundation booklets and Heartlink information leaflets, including some in Urdu. Such was the interest, that by the time we finished we had no booklets or leaflets left.

We were pleased to meet two good friends of Heartlink at the Mosque, Deputy Mayor Councillor Faduma Mohammed and Ealing Council Cabinet Member, Councillor Jasbir Anand. 

We would like to particularly thank the Mosque and Iman Nuuman Mahmood for the invitation and the warm welcome. We must also thank the owner Mr Faisal and manager Mr Yusuf from Gifto Restaurant across the road, for their warm hospitality afterwards.