Tributes paid to charity man Hugh

Hugh Ferguson sadly passed away last month after a short battle with cancer, aged 76.

Together with wife Maureen, Hugh will be remembered as the driving force behind Clann Sona, a local appeal set up to help support disadvantaged and disabled people in Romania.

Hugh and Maureen originally set up the appeal from a spare room in their house in 1990.

They made their first of 45 trips to the country in 1992, taking with them countless loads of donated clothes, toiletries and other essential items over the years.

The charity quickly grew and expanded to include a shop on Merry Street, as well as a warehouse in New Stevenston.

The couple’s reach also grew as they began helping more people across eastern Europe and into Africa and Sri Lanka.

In 2012, the charity officially closed its Merry Street base due to a lack of funding.

However, that didn’t stop Hugh and Maureen, who, as recently as 2014, travelled to Romania to aid the Fundatia Excelsior and the Speranta Special Needs Club.

Sadly Hugh was diagnosed with cancer in October last year and had been undergoing chemotherapy.

He took ill in December and was admitted to Wishaw General, where he sadly passed away.

His funeral was held on December 29 in Dalziel St Andrew’s Church.

Maureen said: “It was very sudden. Hugh was diagnosed with cancer in October and had been receiving chemo.

“However, he was taken in to Wishaw General with an infection and passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly.

“What can I say about Hugh, he was always so kind and very even tempered.

“I miss him dearly, even just him coming in and asking if I want a coffee. I still can’t get over it, it doesn’t feel real.

“I’d like to thank everyone for their support. We raised £796 as a collection at Hugh’s funeral, which will be sent to the foundation in Romania.”

Motherwell West councillor, Michael Ross, also paid tribute, saying: “I knew Hugh long before I got elected. He was an inspiration.

“When it was all too easy to switch off the TV and ignore the plight of those children, Hugh helped galvanise an entire community to assist. They rolled up their sleeves and got to work.

“He was one of Motherwell’s best.”