Pamela Willis

I wrote a blog post upon hearing about the sudden and shocking passing of 25 year old Pamela Willis on 22nd February 2010 but I feel she is deserving of a lasting tribute, and one that has been written more eloquently then the ramblings of someone in shock.

I still can’t believe I’m writing this – the whole thing is so surreal and I just can’t get it into my head that she has really gone.

I first met Pammy in January/February 2009 when she came out for a drink with a few members of staff after having had an interview and been offered a job at my place of work. She was actually quite a different person to the Pammy I got to know, but when we start a new job we always hold ourselves back a bit before we suss out the people we work with.

However, once she started work, we soon discovered the real Pam! Always happy, and no matter what the difficulties that life might throw at her, she always remained positive – an extremely admirable trait.
I loved working with Pam. She had a ‘can do’ attitude towards everything, despite working with a very difficult boss. It would cheer me up no end to hear her laughter echoing from the other office,and you couldn’t help but smile to yourself.

It didn’t take long for James and I to form a very good friendship with Pam, and I counted her amongst my closest friends even after just a few months. It amazed me how much time she had for other people – the trouble was that she had so many friends she had a very full diary! She came to see me in Panto last month, and it was another friend’s birthday shenanigan’s the same night…no probs for Pammy because she did both! Came and saw panto and stuck around for a while after, then off to the birthday do.

One night while she was still living in Chelmsford, we went round to her flat and she introduced us to the comedy of Jeff Dun Ham, and we will never be able to watch him again without thinking of our Pammy. Her laughter will be remembered everytime we watch the DVD she bought for James on his birthday last year.

I remember going out for many lunches and dinners where James would subtly edge his fork towards Pammy’s plate only to be given a certain look accompanied by “Pammy doesn’t share food!”. James always persisted, and Pammy always relented – although she always took some of his food in exchange. It always amused me – it quite often resulted in fork fights!

Most of you will know that clothes-wise I’m not very…um…feminine, shall we say! She was determined to make me just a bit girly, and shopping with Pammy was fun – although more than an hour in Primark Pam? Come on woman! She would pick out clothes for me that I wouldn’t have even considered. I’m not a great person to go shopping with, but again, it’s the effect Pam had on you. You’d think “oh alright, I’ll try it on”, and hey presto, more often than not you’d end up buying her pick because she knew you.

I could tell Pammy absolutely anything, and I mean ANYTHING, and she was always there for me if I needed her. A tactile and loving woman, she would always give you a massive hug when she saw you. She has left a massive hole in my life. Although I only knew her for a year or so, it feels like I’ve known her much longer.

It makes me extremely sad to think we put off meeting up recently just because our car was out of action. I’m also so sad that we didn’t take more photos of Pammy, James and me.

Hey you,
Thank you so much for being the great friend you were, and generally just being you. You have had such a big impact on my life and it is a physical pain to know I won’t hear your voice again and that you won’t be at the end of the phone or msn. You were a truly beautiful person, inside and out and I hope you realise just how much you were loved by your family and friends. I love you pickle, and I will remember you forever and miss you always. Rest in peace beautiful xxxxx

I have written a poem all about our beautiful Pammy.

Please feel free to add your own tributes and memories below – I know many people have been devastated by this tragedy, and people who have known her much longer will have many more of their own stories.

Pamela Willis, 10.0 out of 10 based on 2 ratings