Almost four years ago the ashes of Jeffrey Kirkpatrick were stolen during a robbery at his beloved nightclub, CCHQ (Classic Corner Headquarters), in Fishers’ Hill.
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’ Hill (GCN, October 23).
They were brought to the GCN’s offices by Lee-Anne van den Heever, who found them.
The ashes sparked a number of calls to the GCN’s offices and were collected on Wednesday, by Jeffrey’s daughter-in-law Zia Kirkpatrick (29).
The young woman told the GCN that Jeffrey had passed away in February 2010, from emphysema, at the age of 48.
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 – his chair near the door to the club.
“The ashes were always there and it seemed like the perfect way to honour him,” said Zia.
But tragedy struck in November 2011, when the ashes were stolen during a robbery at the club.
“That night we had a huge function and had taken in a lot of money,” Zia explained.
“We had locked up and Jay and I had gone to our room above the club when I realised I had forgotten my cellphone downstairs.
“I went to collect it and everything seemed fine, the ashes were on Jeffrey’s chair and all was quiet.”
However, the next morning, the couple discovered that the safe had been opened and that all the money, as well as Jeffrey’s Magnum 747 firearm and his ashes had been stolen.
“Jay 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,” Zia said.
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.
Then Zia was left alone to continue the work of father and son.
“It became too much for me and one evening I had a huge panic attack,” she said.
“My best friend Natalie Gachet came to fetch me to take me to hospital, but tragedy struck again and we were in a car accident.
“Natalie passed away in the accident and I was in a coma for two months, after which I had to undergo intensive therapy.
“Unfortunately I had to sell the club, as I couldn’t do the work anymore.”
Zia is now a freelance make-up artist and has moved to Edenvale.
When asked what she was going to do with Jeffrey’s ashes, she said she was going to contact his brother, Barry, who would be pleased by the fact that they had been found.
It is not known what the family will decide to do with them.
“It is so crazy to think that after four years the ashes have turned up,” Zia said.
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