Nurturing local talent through Bee’s legacy
27th June 2025
Gifted musician and author Belinda Starling-Trim was using her creative talents to the full, when a tragedy cut her life short at the age of 34.
Her creative skills inspired her family to set up a fund in her memory, so that other talented young people could be given vital support to reach their full potential.
Belinda, affectionately known as Bee, lived in Wivenhoe and was a successful singer, songwriter and author. In 2006 she went into hospital for a routine operation to remove a cyst on her bile duct. Following the operation she tragically died, leaving behind her husband, musician and producer Mike Trim and two small children.
To honour her memory and the talent she embodied, the Belinda Starling Memorial Fund was established in 2007. The fund is run by the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF) and gives grants to other gifted and inspirational young people to help them fulfil their dreams.
The fund is a fitting legacy and tribute for Belinda, who was best known for her critically acclaimed novel The Journal of Dora Damage. She died knowing that her book would be published by Bloomsbury, but did not know how successful it would be.
Belinda’s father David said, “When Bee died it was a tragedy for the whole family, but we knew that she would not have wanted us to sit around moping.
“We decided to establish the Belinda Starling Memorial Fund with Essex Community Foundation to help young people in Essex whose ambitions and talents, particularly in literature, drama or music, just cannot take root without help, encouragement and money.
“We flagged up our intention to launch a memorial fund at Bee’s funeral in August 2006 and it was heartwarming the way people kept on saying, “You will let us know when it is up and running, won’t you?”
The fund grew and has already distributed almost £180,000 in grants. The first was to the London Bus Theatre Company (LBTC), based in Hockley, that works with marginalised young people to reduce crime, improve community safety, tackle inequality and instigate social change through the arts. A grant of £3,188 from Bee’s Fund helped LBTC to develop a drama project working with talented young men from Southend and Castlepoint who were at risk of offending and train them in the art of acting, helping to build their confidence and skills and increase their employment opportunities.
Other grants from Bee’s Fund have been given to support around 64 individual young people in Essex who have a wide range of talents.
“Deciding to set up a fund in Bee’s memory was a no-brainer, but who to set it up with had been a more difficult decision. We did not want to run the fund ourselves, because of the complexities of dealing with a charity.
“I knew of Essex Community Foundation through a friend, and it was reassuring to find that the money from the fund would get to where it was intended and the administration was first rate, and the costs involved were reasonable.
“Essex Community Foundation’s real strength is that they can identify young people who need support and they can help us spend the money with precision and maximum effect.
“It would have made Bee very happy to know that a fund in her name was giving young people opportunities to realise their full potential.”
By the age of 19, Belinda was already proving that she had immense talent. English literature, drama and music were her great loves. She taught Romeo and Juliet to teenagers in Kwazulu, one of South Africa’s rougher areas, a place where, as Belinda said, “they all know what tear gas smells like.”
Belinda regularly sent letters home that summer and made it clear how much she enjoyed sharing her intellectual gifts with others less fortunate and that she had discovered a truth that for some, remains hidden all their lives.
“I can’t explain how much I love them,” she wrote. “They can be obnoxious or stroppy and I may tell them off strictly, but they have my love and trust, I have theirs and I just love them.
“Why does everyone go round as if love is a scarce commodity that must be rationed? There’s a huge reserve of love waiting to be tapped into and it will never run dry.”
Belinda’s talents, her love for life and passion to help others was inspirational and her legacy will inspire and foster new generations of creative young people.
One of the first young people to benefit from support was an outstanding law student, who lived in Braintree and was one of the first members of her family to attend University. Having achieved her degree, Laura set her sights on very specialised areas of law. A grant from Belinda’s Fund meant that she could go to the University of Melbourne, Australia, to undertake coursework for her Masters degree in law.
After she graduated and started work for a London based law firm, she said, “Without the support of the Belinda Starling Memorial Fund and ECF, I would not have the future ahead of me that I had always dreamed about. It has propelled me into a career that I love and with which I can help so many other people.”
Belinda’s father, David said: “If in years to come people can look back and ask: “Who was this Belinda Starling who helped me get to where I am today?” and also realise that there are still young people being given help because of her death, then we will have done OK.”
Supporting Local Talent
Other grants from Bee’s Fund are supporting young people who are pursuing careers in music and dance.
Having achieved his Grade 8 clarinet at just 16, Nathan Quilter from Canvey Island is currently studying at the Royal Collect of Music (RCM), furthering his skills and after which he intends to pursue a career as a musician. He has been a regular member of the Essex Youth Orchestra, Essex Youth Symphonic Wind Orchestra, Aldeburgh Young Musicians and a volunteer with the Essex Marching Corps.
Nathan received £1,500 from the Belinda Starling Memorial Fund to help pay accommodation and equipment costs while studying at RCM.
At just six years old, Elijah Jones was already part of the National Ballroom Competition Squad and following his dream of being a professional dancer. Elijah, now aged eight, lives with his family in Great Wakering and received £1,500 from Belinda’s Fund to enable him to compete in the Ballroom and Latin juvenile national and international competitions in the UK and Europe. The Principal of Essex Academy of Dance said, “Elijah shows huge potential and is placing in all regional competitions. He is a future ‘Strictly” star!
Ameile Gruar is 13 years old and a talented Ballroom and Latin dancer. Her dream is to become a professional dancer, and she trains four times a week with her dance partner, River. They have competed in many competitions, including at the Blackpool Tower in 2024. To help with the cost of dance lessons, workshops and dresses to enable her to compete at national level, Ameile has received £3,000 from Belinda’s Fund.
Anna Nesvitii is 19 and studying a level 3 music performance and production course at Colchester Institute. Prior to this she was studying music in Ukraine before she was forced to flee because of the War. Anna lives in Dovercourt near Harwich, and Belinda’s Fund has given her £2,000 to help with travel and associated costs to complete her
course and follow her dream of becoming a professional musician.
Laurie Rothwell is 22 and a talented young musician from Manningtree. His passion is Classical and Jazz and his principal instrument is the clarinet, although he also plays the saxophone and flute. He successfully completed a degree at the Guildhall School of Music, and a grant of £2,990 from Belinda’s Fund, along with £1,200 from the Essex Young Musician’s Trust is helping with the cost of undertaking a two-year post graduate Masters course in Jazz in Berlin