Sharon Lingham

Sharon Lingham - pictured with Barry Corbett, Norm Withers, Sir Bob Parker and Joanna Nicholls-Parker

Sharon Shobha Devi Lingham was born to a Rajasthani Arya Samaj Indian family on December 11th, 1956 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.  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 ran for the Christchurch City Council in the 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 Limited, which provided luxury transport for the many celebrities that came into the region.  She died of a subarachnoid haemorrhage on March 8th, 2010.  The company Crown Limousines NZ Limited 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.  Sharon pioneered Canterbury Television's breakfast show to promote local talent.  From promoting NZ Special Olympics Games, NZ's first ROCKONZ celebration of 50 years of Rock 'n' Roll, to the first Global Wedding Extravaganza, from guiding budding local talent to well-heeled international stars with passion including Rachel Hunter, Hayley Westenra, Dave Dobbyn, Fiona Pears, Shane Cortese, Brian Wilson, The Moody Blues, Gene Pitney, Petula Clark, Beach Boys, Andy Kim and Robert Lamm.