Sharon Shobha Devi Lingham

Sharon Shobha Devi Lingham (Sharon Lingham) (December 11, 1956 - March 8, 2010) (née Verma) was a New Zealand entrepreneur and philanthropist.

Life and career

She was born to an Rajasthani Arya Samaj Indian family, before moving to New Zealand to settle. She was a well-known personality in the Christchurch-Canterbury region of New Zealand, being involved in local media TV stations (including CTV), and also as a Celebrity Ambassador, with her well-known website, www.sharonlingham.com. She was also the supporter of many local charities, including the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind and Ronald McDonald House.

Her Global Extravaganza in 2008 and 2009 in Victoria Square in Christchurch attracted many people, and was a great success and source of funding for local charities, as well as bringing nations together in the Christchurch-Canterbury region.

She also ran for the Christchurch City Council Hagley-Ferrymead and Shirley-Papanui wards.

She was variously known as the 'Fuchsia Queen' through her business Canterbury Fuchsia Centre, and later known as the 'Limousine Queen', through her business Crown Limousines NZ Ltd, which provided luxury transport for the many celebrities that came into the region.

Death and legacy

Lingham died of a subarachnoid haemorrhage on 8 March 2010.

The company Crown Limousines NZ Ltd still continues to support the local charities she was involved with. Her son Durgadas (Rodney) Lingham is an Ayurvedic Practitioner and Veda Kovid (Proficiency in Vedic Knowledge), and continues her inspiration, much of which he derived from her.