Meet the



Team

CEO/Founders


Fern and Ryan Steele

Hello

Our names are Fern and Ryan Steele, we are the CEO/Founders of Harlee’s Angels. Our charity came about when our eldest child Harlee passed away suddenly in June 2020.

We would like to tell you a little bit about ourselves. I am a qualified nursery practitioner but after Harlee’s passing, I took a break from this profession. I am now a full-time housewife looking after Harlee’s little brother and sister, Louie aged 10 and Elsie-Maè aged 6. We also have a very loving Dogue De Bordeaux that we had always intended to have, but because of Covid this got put on hold. When we finally got him, we named him Zeus as that is what Harlee said he would have called his dog.

I also care for Harlee’s great grandparents who live with us, they are both very elderly and keep me busy.

Ryan is employed in the docks as a Port Operative working shift pattern. He was lucky enough to be able to take 6 months off work, which was definitely much needed after Harlee’s death.

After Harlee passed away we realised that we were lucky to have the support of family and friends to take time off work and we think it is very important to be able to do this without the unnecessary financial worries, but we understand for families on low income, and only being entitled to statutory bereavement leave, it could be impossible to take that long off work, so we are hoping that Harlee’s Angels will be able to help towards supporting families, so that they are able to take the time they need to grieve.

Harlee was my first-born baby and the one who gave me the title mummy, I will be forever grateful for that.  Every day is so painful, and I miss Harlee so much but by talking about him and sharing our story helps the painful days by keeping his Legacy alive. 

A message from Ryan; Harlee’s passing is so painful, as the amount of time we used to spend together going to watch football (the saints) even though we still joke now with family and friends he was really a Man City fan. I miss our talks about football or gaming or times he would come out with me to go see all my mates who always say you was “your dads right hand man”. 

We are hoping our charity is successful in helping families that are unfortunate to experience the loss of a child as we have.

Trustees


Matt Meadus

Hi, I'm Matt Meadus and I'm part of the Trustee team at Harlee's Angels. 

I’m very lucky to call Fern and Ryan Family. 

My cousin Ryan and I are more like brothers, so you can imagine how heart-breaking to see the pain the whole family endured when we lost our little Legend Harlee. 

I have lots of different strings to my bow, but I'm probably best known for my love of coaching and working in football for Hampshire FA, so when Harlee told me he wanted to play I was over the moon, and I'll never ever forget the smile on his face every time he kicked a ball. 

I’m extremely happy to see both Louie and Elsie-Maè follow in Harlee’s footsteps and follow our love in football. 

I’m still unsure who was happier the kids getting new boots or me buying them.  

I have a grown-up son (Jack) who has had a love for playing football since he was really young and it’s been great coaching him into adult football, as well as a teenage son (Tom), who has recently become a qualified referee and has also played at a high level and they, along with my wife (Keira) have been my rocks whilst we all grieve as a family. 

Becoming a Trustee of Harlee's Angels was one of the easiest decisions I've ever had to make! 

I'm so incredibly proud of Ryan and Fern, in a time when they could have easily be swallowed by sadness, they've chosen to turn their experience into something positive for families who experience the death of a child under 17.  

I’m hoping that I will bring an honest, real world perspective and add that to my strong management experience this will encapsulate a skill set required to give Harlee’s Angels a trustee that will help drive the success of this amazing charity.  

I'm excited to help turn Harlee's memory into a legacy.

Megan Davies

Hey I'm Megan and I'm one of the trustees for Harlee's Angels!

I've been friends with Harlee’s mum Fern since school and we've shared many great times together, including holidays, college, nights out and family times.  Therefore I've been blessed to have known Harlee since the day he was born and was lucky enough to become his godmother too!

He was the most loving boy with the biggest smile!

I'm so thankful for all the memories I shared with him, his mum and then with our families.

My own son Teddy loved getting up to mischief with Harlee and his younger brother Louie.

Harlee was always looking out for them and always took time to play and joke around with them, there was a lot of laughs!

He was such a caring big brother to Elsie-Maè and Louie and still made time for my little girl Halle who was the baby of the group, he gave her plenty of cuddles too, he made sure no one was left out.

 When Fern told me she was going to start a charity in Harlee's name to help other families of course I wanted to help, whether it's organising family fun days, marathons, walks or any way of raising money to help families that are going through what Fern, Ryan and their families are going through also.

Here's to raising funds in memory of our Harlee the boy with the biggest smile x



Darren Farminer

I’m a family man who put them before anyone and anything, i have a lovely wife jodie and 2 daughters Isla & esme, 

My hobbies are golf football long walks ( sometimes very long walks ) 

I love doing things to make other peoples lives that little bit easier, I’ve known Ryan and Fern and there lovely children and I’ve watched them all grow from starting there journey through glenfield infant school where I work, 

I was over the moon to be added to this amazing charity and I’ll do my up most to make sure I bring my A game to every part of the fundraising I do for them.



Secretary/


Treasurer


Heather White

Hello my name is Heather White I am the maternal grandmother of Harlee Steele.  I live with my husband Codge and our Golden Retriever Barney, we both work full time and love to spend our spare time with the family, going on holiday or just pottering about in the garden.

I was honoured to be at Harlee's birth, to welcome him into this world and to be a part of his life.  Although we have only had Harlee for 11 years on this earth, he is still very much a part of our lives living on in our hearts and our memories.  He was my first born grandson, the first born to my daughter and the apple of my eye.  We had a close bond and a special relationship that only a nan and her grandson can have. I miss Harlee so very much.

Our world fell apart when Harlee passed away and seeing our daughter Fern, son-in-law Ryan and Harlee's younger siblings our grandson Louie and granddaughter Elsie-Maè in so much in pain with grief was had to bear.  They say grandparents grieve twice, once for their grandchild and once for their own child.  This is so very true. 

My wish is for Harlee's Angels to grow and succeed and I am pleased to be part of a wonderful charity that will help families by offering them financial assistance when they need it most.


Community Fundraiser

Emily Fallows

Hello! I am Emily and I am the Community fundraisier for Harlee’s Angels.
I am friends with Harlee’s mum Fern, I first met Fern and Ryan when my son Lewis started school and was in the same class as Harlee. I will always remember the first time I saw that gorgeous, cheeky smile. Before the boys started we had a chance to do some activities in the woods at the school and Lewis gravitated towards Harlee and I knew then that he was a very special little boy. He always looked out for Lewis and would make sure he came to me if anything had happened at school. The boys had such a lovely friendship going through from year R when they started all the way through up to that awful day we had the news that he had been cruelly taken away. He was the kindest, sweetest boy with a heart of gold, he was the bestest friend and always looked out for anyone that needed it. I am so lucky to have met this wonderful family and over the years we have become firm friends which I am so grateful to our boys for. Fern, Ryan, Louie & Elsie-Maè are the bravest and courageous people I know and I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful charity, raising money to help other families and keeping Harlee’s name alive in his lasting legacy x