Almost four years ago the ashes of Jeffrey Kirkpatrick were stolen during a robbery at his beloved nightclub, CCHQ (Classic Corner Headquarters), in Fishers\u2019 Hill.<\/p>\n
Then, last week, in a strange twist of fate, the ashes were discovered on a wall outside the Victoria Court flats, on the corner of Main and Scorpia roads, Fishers\u2019 Hill (GCN, October 23).<\/p>
They were brought to the GCN\u2019s offices by Lee-Anne van den Heever, who found them.<\/p>\n
The ashes sparked a number of calls to the GCN\u2019s offices and were collected on Wednesday, by Jeffrey\u2019s daughter-in-law Zia Kirkpatrick (29).<\/p>
The young woman told the GCN that Jeffrey had passed away in February 2010, from emphysema, at the age of 48.<\/p>\n
The owner of CCHQ had loved the nightclub and, in his honour, Zia and his son, Jay, would place his ashes in his favourite spot in the nightclub \u2013 his chair near the door to the club.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ashes were always there and it seemed like the perfect way to honour him,\u201d said Zia.<\/p>\n
But tragedy struck in November 2011, when the ashes were stolen during a robbery at the club.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat night we had a huge function and had taken in a lot of money,\u201d Zia explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had locked up and Jay and I had gone to our room above the club when I realised I had forgotten my cellphone downstairs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went to collect it and everything seemed fine, the ashes were on Jeffrey\u2019s chair and all was quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, the next morning, the couple discovered that the safe had been opened and that all the money, as well as Jeffrey\u2019s Magnum 747 firearm and his ashes had been stolen.<\/p>\n
\u201cJay always used to laugh and say he wondered what the person did when he\/she discovered that there were ashes in the box they had stolen,\u201d Zia said.<\/p>\n
The couple, who had been together for 10 years, continued to run CCHQ until three weeks after their wedding and a wonderful trip to Thailand, when Jay tragically died from a heart attack at the age of 27.<\/p>\n
Then Zia was left alone to continue the work of father and son.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt became too much for me and one evening I had a huge panic attack,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy best friend Natalie Gachet came to fetch me to take me to hospital, but tragedy struck again and we were in a car accident.<\/p>\n
\u201cNatalie passed away in the accident and I was in a coma for two months, after which I had to undergo intensive therapy.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately I had to sell the club, as I couldn\u2019t do the work anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zia is now a freelance make-up artist and has moved to Edenvale.<\/p>\n
When asked what she was going to do with Jeffrey\u2019s ashes, she said she was going to contact his brother, Barry, who would be pleased by the fact that they had been found.<\/p>\n
It is not known what the family will decide to do with them.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is so crazy to think that after four years the ashes have turned up,\u201d Zia said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Related articles:<\/p>\n