A Belfast woman is running a fundraiser to fulfil the wish of her father, , who passed away on January 10.
As a well-known artist manager, label boss and booker in Belfast, Lyndon Stephens helped numerous artists grow their careers and was credited with breaking several emerging Northern Ireland acts to an international audience.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Lyndon had passed away following a lengthy battle with illness.
Tributes poured in from Northern Irish musicians, including NI Music Prize winners Joshua Burnside, Ryan Vail and Ciaran Lavery, whose careers Lyndon had helped throughout the years.
Now, his daughter Chloe Duffy has put together a fundraiser to fulfil one of Lyndon Stephens' final wishes, which was to have a memorial bench placed in South Belfast's Ormeau Park.
She told Belfast Live: "It was very important for dad I think because with his illness he found that it brought many of his friends and family closer together.
"He was always networking and I think we wanted a possible meeting point that we could come together to remember him as he wasn’t going to have a grave so to speak with being cremated.
"It means the absolute world," added Chloe.
"I was unsure if we would even meet the target let alone surpass it! Dad found with music it brought people together and I think he'd be glad to see that his death has also brought many of his friends and family back together!"
The message on the fundraiser reads: "Calling all Lyndons Stephens friends and family to help fulfil one of his wishes. Before dad passed away he had asked close family to organise a memorial bench to be placed in Ormeau Park facing the willows trees.
"Dad had spent a lot of time walking through the park with family and friends and it became a very special place for him. The instalment of the bench with a memorial plaque will be at the cost of £1200.
"Proceeds over the cost of the bench will be donated to Marie Curie hospice, without whom we could not have coped in his last days. We want to honour dads final wish, so any donation towards this little or large is greatly appreciated. Thanks again Chloe x"
To donate to the fundraiser click here.
