Close friends and family members gathered in remembrance of the late Mayor Tayo Adelani Situ, on Thursday 9th May 2013 at the Camberwell Old Cemetery, Forest Hill Road, London.
A short sermon and prayer session for the family, friends, the Tayo Situ Foundation, trustees, supporters and well – wishers was delivered by Pastor A. A Ibrahim and Pastor Jide Siwoku respectively.
Councillor Michael Situ, the eldest sons of the late Mayor said, “My father was a good and selflessly man who touched many lives positively. He left a good legacy. Just like the inscription on the tomb, “Let your light so shine that all may see your good deeds and glorify your father who is in heaven” l would enjoin everyone to live by that”.
“Though it is almost 2 years ago we lost our dear father, husband, grandfather, friend and colleague, Tayo Situ, for some like me it still feels like yesterday”.
Set-up by friends and family of the late Mayor Tayo Situ, TSF aims to foster youth engagement leadership and achievement. Late Mayor Tayo Situ had always wanted to organise some sort of event to educate our young people about the opportunities open to them in place of a life of crime. Indeed Mayor Tayo Situ had already held several meetings leading up to May 2011 before his death with Southwark Council’s leadership team about how this can materialise. So it was very important that the work of a Foundation established in his memory should focus on young people, particularly in the area of Southwark.
Tayo Adelani Situ was born on 11 April 1952 and completed his early education in Nigeria. Prior to emigrating to the UK, he worked briefly as an apprentice in a pharmacy. Upon arrival in 1985, he went to continue his studies by completing an Accountancy degree at South Bank University. He was married with 5 children who still reside here in the UK.
He lived in Peckham throughout his life in the UK and felt a special connection to Southwark. During this period he volunteered in different capacities in many voluntary organisations including being a trustee of several. He was elected as a Councillor for Peckham Ward in Southwark at the 2002 election and appointed as Mayor of Southwark in May 2010. He carried out his mayoral duties with the greatest honour and with a deep sense of pride in the role.
Throughout the year his priorities were to see more jobs for local people and better services for the young and vulnerable. He believed that the greatest investments any community can make are in its young people.
