Building Blocks Academy pays tribute to Bilal Furqan
The preschool where carpenter Bilal Furqan “lovingly worked with all his heart” is to dedicate its children’s woodwork area in his honour.Staff and children at Building Blocks Academy wanted to create a fitting tribute to 41-year-old Mr Furqan, who succumbed to his injuries after a tragic diving accident.The youngsters called Mr Furqan ‘Bilal the Builder’ after the TV character ‘Bob the Builder’ and his memory will live on through the ‘pretend play’ area he built, which includes workbenches and tools.Father-of-four Mr Furqan, who ran Benaiah Carpentry, suffered neck and spinal injuries when he jumped off cliffs at Admiralty House Park on Saturday. He remained in a critical condition in the intensive care unit and died on Thursday surrounded by his family at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.Mr Furqan was responsible for all the carpentry at Bermuda’s first performing arts preschool, which is on the top floor of The Salvation Army Citadel in North Street, Hamilton.The “excellent carpenter” was said to be a perfectionist as he had lovingly spent almost every working day over the last seven months at the preschool.Mr Furqan had just finished the stage in the preschool’s drama room and had planned to start working on the outdoor play castle this week.“He had such a big heart and he put everything into his work.“The kids knew him very well. Everyone loved him; he was always smiling and laughing.“We will dedicate the pretend play area in his honour.”Mr Furqan was hard at work at Building Blocks Academy on Thursday last week. This week the children had made him a get-well card, but unfortunately didn’t get chance to give it to him.Building Blocks Academy currently has 33 children taking specialist classes in art, music, dance and drama.Earlier this year Mr Furqan told The Royal Gazette’s Sirkka Huish he was enjoying his work at Building Blocks Academy. He said he liked the idea of helping to build a future for Bermuda’s children.