So this week many of the ex-Added Value clan received the very sad news about our good friend, Louize Gibson.
Louize was a fantastic quallie who I met at AV in the very early days and who became a chum, forging a friendship that has lasted over the many years (now decades) since she left the business. We used to meet at a pub in Teddington with a few other AV friends, and Louize would make the effort to come up from her home in Hove, to see us, a few times a year when we could get together. Lots of chatting, chinwagging, swapping stories and always the gift of some hugs and a shoulder/back massage – Louize always gave far more than she took.
Unbelievably, she was diagnosed with a Stage 4 glioblastoma brain tumour a week ago, having had a few headaches for just a few weeks, nothing more than that. It was horribly aggressive, and Louize passed away only a week later.
Amazingly, and so in keeping with the stalwart she was, Louize made it to sing in the sunshine with her choir, at the sea, just the night before she died. Throwing up in between songs, but singing her heart out to the end. What a bloody star she was, and one that should never have gone through this, so young and with so much more to do and give in life..
This photo of her is a perfect encapsulation of her vibrancy and brilliance.
A few of 'the old gang' were able to meet up yesterday afternoon in Bushy Park to raise a glass to her. Somehow, you always hope that the person involved can 'see' the impact of their passing – Louize was very unassuming and would possibly have been surprised by how much she was loved.
Here's to you, lovely lady. Shine on.
Scotty x