Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Manjit (Colnbrook Detention Centre): She did great for us

We all detainees had lost a good friend.
We all sad from received this news today.
I have no words to say more. Only "I can say she did great for us".
We never forgetting her, she lives with us always, ever and ever!
Once again I’m so sorry this happened!

Thanks,

Manjit,
Colnbrook

L. (Colnbrook Detention Centre): She loved to help

Dear friend,

I am very sorry to had some very bad news like this, Ester I had spoken to once, but I know that she is a great person, and she is a friend that have given her life in service to many people. Moreover, she was a friend of poor people, and she loved to help the people, and she believed that in life everybody gets better when everybody is doing well. And the love she had to help the poor, we were going to miss an important person. We will really miss her. Let God bless her, and may the God of peace be with her now and forever.

Best wishes to the family and the friends,

L,
Colnbrook

P. (Harmondsworth Detention Centre): when I was at my lowest.

To Ester

There has been a time in my life when I felt that I couldn’t go on but Ester was always here to talk to me and make me feel strong in myself again.

I really believe that she was my guidance because at times when I was at my lowest I would share things that I couldn’t share with anybody else, talking to Ester has made me feel so light.

She was like an angel who you can call on and she would always be there. I am so sorry that she is no longer here with us, but she has been missed by a lot of people and that’s what I really want her family to know.

I also want the family to know that she has made a great impression on my life although we have only spoke over the phone, and I do know that she was very important to me. Ester has really touch my heart in many ways and I will never forget what she has done for me.

P.
Harmondsworth

Ebou (now released from Harmondsworth Detention Centre): no easy way to freedom

I write with profound shock and sadness when I heard the news that Ms Ester Gluck has inevitably passed away in an accident. At first it’s like a dream and I thought it’s not true at all. She has been so helpful to all the detainees at various detention centres particularly myself. She has been so dedicated and professional in the execution and deliberation of her expected duties. I have never met her personally but from her way of conversation with me I knew that her appointment to that office suits her perfectly.

She is strong, caring, untiring and energetic woman in all her endeavors with the detainees. I have also share this feeling with the rest of the detainees in here and on behalf of all the detainees here I am sending my deepest condolence once more again to your office and most importantly to her family. She is not only a lost to your office and her family but also to all the detainees in various detention centres in the UK; particularly the desperate ones like me. She deserves everything possible to be remembered; single, and hailed as a hero of all merciful human race. She is the only one who use to make me feel like I am at home the way she talk to me, the way she took over my problem and continue with the paper work sending faxes to different portfolios within concerned offices of the locality. In our dialogue most of the time she will advice me calm down despite the burden of stress and confusion you are undergoing She said and I quote "there is no easy way to freedom just remain strong Ebou! Am doing everything possible to make sure that you get your liberty" Any time she spoke to me I feel like I have seen all my scattered family back home and feel so happy.

Her untimely tragic death has therefore left a stain on my happiness as a detainee and a human. I know if you have the means of bringing her back to life you will definitely do so but I will also give a helping hand to that task.

I know no matter how much I will try to express my deep sympathy to your office in how much I feel cannot bring her to life its natures decision and every living thing must one day answer to natures call without questions. Its very difficult for all of us to accept this but let us not forget to continue praying for her soul to perfectly rest in eternal peace. May the almighty shower her with all the merciful blessings to her loving soul? Even though she is gone, she is partly with us I personally will never forget about her, Isha and all the office staff in general.

May the almighty god blesses her and cancelled all her sins and turn all her sins into rewards for her success in heaven. May the almighty god also shower his blessings to her family and all of you long life, happiness and prosperity in your endeavors Amen!!

Faithfully yours,

Ebou, Harmondsworth

Joel Stern: diamond in the rough

I was saddened and shocked when I heard the news about Ester's untimely death. I am 7 out of 9 months into yet another GAP year and am currently in New Zealand. I managed to find the website you have set up in memory of our lovely Ester and what a great tribute it is.

I first met Ester on Shemesh summer camp in 1993 and our mutually loud and extrovert personalities immediately found each other. Ester came up to Newcastle for my Bar Mitzvah in 1995 and I remember her as being the only girl there, bossing around a large gaggle of testosterone-fuelled 13 year olds. What a great job she did! Unfortunately, my being in Newcastle led to an eventual loss of contact with Ester, simply by practicalities and distance. As I said, I am currently away and a few months ago I remembered Ester and thought to myself how great it would be to catch up with her when I got back to the UK, as I will be moving to London. I am distraught I will not have this chance.

Last night I had a dream about Ester. I dreamt I was standing in a field and out of nowhere, Ester came running up to me. I found I was unable to speak but also that I did not have the desire to. Ester ran straight up to me and wrapped her arms around me, holding me tight as only Ester could. Although we did not speak, we cried into each other’s shoulders - nothing else needed to be said.

Ester was a wonderful, beautiful person. A diamond in the rough and someone we all looked up to as a perfect role model of what humankind should be like. The world is a worse place without her.

Susannah Marks: unique

My most vivid memories of you Ester are from childhood. They are of yourself, Miriam and I in Portugal in the Summer. Even then I can remember you trying to keep the peace between myself and Miri, you took the role of mother and at that early age showing your greater maturity. Ester if there was one word I could use to describe you it’s UNIQUE. You always stood out whenever I saw you. Although I did not see nearly as much of you after childhood I have a very distinct memory of more recently when you and Angela came down to the country to stay with us. I remember I was going through a terrible teenage phase and was screaming at everyone. I looked up to see your face and I suddenly got this horrific feeling about what I was doing, which I will never forget. You always made an impression on me that is so real you can touch it, it’s an indescribable feeling just UNIQUE and something I will never ever forget.