Information about Maddy

Madeleine Louise Steel, universally loved as “Maddy” was born on June 5th 2001 in the Simpson Memorial Pavilion in Edinburgh. She was Andrew and Veronica’s first child and was cherished by all her family. Despite suffering a brain haemorrhage within the first twenty-four hours of her life, Maddy fought back, was out of hospital within ten days and developed into a completely normal, feisty and energetic little girl.

She loved Mozart, her feet, baths, apple puree, her blanket, Pentopus and her Mummy and Daddy. At five months old she was rolling over, sitting up on her own, playing vigorously with her favourite toys taking everything feasible to her mouth and entertaining everyone with her lively, vigorous vocalising.

Maddy died in her mother’s arms on November 24th 2001, following essential heart surgery but her memory and her fight go on in the treasured memories of her family and in the practical form of the Fellowship established in her name.

It is not growing like a tree
In bulk, does make man better be:
Or standing long an oak, three hundred year,
To fall a log at last, dry, bald and sere:
A lily of a day
Is fairer far in May
Although it fall and die that night
It was the plant and flower of light.
In small proportions we true beauties see
And in short measures life may perfect be.

Ben Jonson, 1573-1637

© The Madeleine Steel Charitable Trust 2021.

The Madeleine Steel Charitable Trust is a registered charity in Scotland (SCO 33732).