RIP Pamela Willis
Posted by James Marriott on February 26, 2010 under Personal | 
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Pamela Willis, Pammy, Freckles.
On Monday 22nd February, 2010 the world lost its sparkle.
Pam used to annoy the crap out of me. The expressions she uses – notibly “how about no” – and ending sentances with the word “so”; her stubborness clashed with mine which whilst we never had proper rows, it did result in a good few ‘exchanges of words’ shall we say. At their peak there may have been an expletive or two thrown at each other. And oh my god that laugh, that witches cackle of a laugh that could be heard for miles made worse by the fact that it took so little to make Pam laugh. Nothing was too shameful or too cringworthy for Pam.
Picture the scene: You’re in the cinema, the lights have gone down, we’ve had the main set of trailers and adverts so this is the second curtain opening before the film starts so people have quietened down ready for the film but there’s just a couple more adverts left to show. The worst one at the moment has to be the Orange (mobile network) adverts with the witch. There’s a few people opening sweet and crisp packets, the odd conversation being completed in hushed tones and on the screen the witch gets some leaves thrown in her face and her hands spark. Suddenly the near quietness is shattered by a short sharp cackle and you sink lower in your seat. No, it’s not the witch inthe advert, it’s the now jiggling, giggling, pointing bint sat next to you. There’s no point nudging her and you’re not going to draw more attention by saying something. You really can’t take her anywhere. Absolutely no shame whats-so-ever.
But, seconds later later and you’re smiling too. It’s the effect she has you, on everyone (well, maybe not the other cinema go-ers) and it’s one of the things that we love about our Pammy. It’s also why it’s virtually impossible to stay angry at her. I once went about 3 days not talking to her but it took more effort than it was really worth.
I first met Pam in January 2009 (seems so much longer) and we got on from the first moment. We were instantly friends and our friendship grew every day as it alsoo did with sandra, my wife. Pam is so easy to like, in fact it’s harder, if not impossible, to dis-like her. She always has a smile for you and I know it’s cliche but she lit up the room. Infectious is a good word to describe Pam, but in the good way that made even the dreariest days seem bright. You just couldn’t feel down when Pam was around about.
If you’ve ever gone out with Pam, shopping during the day, something to eat at lunchtime (we spent a good deal of time at Baroosh in Chelmsford where Pam used to work part-time as a second job) or to a club for the evening you’ll have been oustounded by just how many people Pam knew. Sometimes it seemed that every other person you pass she has to stop and say “hi” to often meaning that for the next 5 minutes she’s forgotten you exist. But again, that’s just because Pam focuses so much of her attention on other people, making them feel that for that moment at least, you’re the most important person in Pam’s world. And it always felt wonderful.
They say you can judge a person by their friends and it was never so true as it was for Pam. Her nature being what it was, she had more friends than I thought it was possible to have outside of F**ebook. Yes, sometimes it meant you had to wait in line if you wanted to meet up with her; and yes, her sometimes dizzy head would arrange to meet several people all the same day but we didn’t mind. You just learnt to accept these things about our Pammy.
Pamela Willis was the best friend anyone could ever wish for and was taken from us a lifetime before her time.
Our lives will now always have a hole in it that can never be filled. Pam was truely unique.
I miss you so much Pam. I’ll never forget you.
Rest in peace beautiful.
XXX
P.S. … bumface!
Sandra’s words: http://www.sandramarriott.com/2010/02/rip-pamela-willis-a-great-friend/
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Keeley Allen said,
Never have truer words been spoken this is lovely.
xxxxx keeley
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