This memorial website was created in the memory of our wonderful, beloved son and brother, Matthew Williams who was born in Yeovil, Somerset, England on June 02, 1990 and passed away on November 19, 2005 at the age of 15. He will be so very much missed by all who knew and loved him. We will remember him forever.
Matthew "Matt" was a very special person. He was loved by all who knew him, he had an infectious laugh, wonderful sense of humour and was a caring loving person.
He wanted just one thing in life, he wanted to fly. Not just any aircraft but military aircraft, specifically fast jets for the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy, just like his Grandfather "Pops" Williams. He was a Leading Sea Cadet at T. S. Mantle where he had been an active member for 5 years.
On November 1st 2005 he left to go to Sea Cadets as usual at 6.15 pm. Whilst at the bus stop waiting with his shipmates he realised that he had left his beret at home. Not wanting to be in the incorrect uniform he tried to rush home to get his beret. On crossing a road he had crossed a thousand times just 200 yds from home he was hit by a car. After a long struggle in the intensive care unit of Bristol Childrens Hospital Matt passed away on Saturday 19th November - leaving our hearts broken.
Matt was a son that his Mum, Carol and Dad, Chris were so proud of. He was also a Brother, confidant and best friend to his sister Charlotte "Charlie". Matt was a son and brother, grandson, cousin and nephew: He was a shipmate and schoolmate, soulmate and a friend. We all miss him so very, very much and will remember him always. Matt;
We wish you safe passage on the voyage you are now on May all your dreams be fulfilled Fly with the Angels; Soar in the Heavens For the constellations have a brilliant new star tonight
Reminiscing / Amy Burke (Friend)
It's been a long time since I've heard your voice. But everytime I look at your photo I'll remember it as clear as day.I've known you for some time now since Primary School when we were really good friends.
We definately had some really good laughs ...
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Remember / Dad
It is 4 years since we held you told you we loved you told you how proud of you we are.
We watch video of you and Charlotte so happy so funny so engaging so MATT!
So why did life and circumstance get in the way?
So many people remember you Matt s...
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Thinking of you x / Alex Slator (friend)
You’ve hardly left my thoughts today Matt I don’t know why. I spent a long time at your ‘spot’ this afternoon it was so beautiful really a lovely day and this poem by Carol Anne Duffy resounded in my head: I’m here now w...
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hey / Jay Westaway (friend)
hey dude
long time no speak. and even now i dont really know what to say
just remebering the time where we played star wars in you garden we must have been about 13. also the times in english we used to go thought the lines from gladiato...
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my personal tribute / Chris Pearce (friend (one of many) )
well a lot of people may or may not no that i havn't written on this site your bebo site or even visited the place where you now rest. well this isnt through ignorance or forgetting about you because it is the complete opposite! even coming up t...
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Never Forgotten Its two years since an “ordinary” day turned into an ordeal and a nightmare when a devastating road accident in Ilchester resulted in the Williams family being torn apart and changed their lives forever.
Tragedy strikes many families, but of course not your family, it is always someone else, isn’t it?
November the 1st 2005 was like any other day for us. Work, school all the normal things, until 6.30pm. It is incomprehensible how a knock on the door and subsequent events can change a family’s life for ever. It really was an ordinary day until then.
Our 15 year old son Matthew had his tea early, as always on a Tuesday and Friday, prior to leaving for Sea Cadets at nearby Yeovilton air base. He went upstairs to change and shouted “goodbye” from the hall as he left for the bus. No time to come into the kitchen where Mum, Dad and Sister Charlotte were eating their meal.
At 6.30 Commanding Officer of Yeovil Sea Cadets knocked on our front door – “Matthew has had an accident” – in one short sentence our world collapsed and changed forever.
We spent the first part of that night in Yeovil Hospital A&E where the team worked wonders and kept Matt alive, just. He had many injuries but most serious was the head injury sustained when he had been in collision with the car on the main road just 300 yards from our house.
Matt was transferred to Bristol Children’s Hospital paediatric intensive care unit at around midnight, his mum Carol went in the ambulance, I followed in a car. The next few days were a blur of specialists, operations, consultations, warnings, tears, stress and most of all dread.
Matt had sustained badly broken legs in the accident, but the main injury was to his head. The blow had resulted in uncontrollable pressure building up and causing untold damage. The most confounding thing was that there was no visible sign of this. He looked like he was a perfectly normal lad, just sleeping. He was heavily sedated and immobile, how could this happen to our vibrant, bright young man?
There is no need to elaborate on further detail, what happened over the next 19 days is very personal, private and painful to recall. However on the 19th November 2005 Matt passed away peacefully, with his Mum, Dad and beloved sister Charlotte by his side as we had been throughout those awful 19 days. Decisions that were made over those last few days are ones that no parent should have to face. The world can be a very cruel place.
We held a service of celebration for Matts life on the 30th November 2005. The service was conducted in the Royal Naval Church of St Bartholomew in Yeovilton. It was both uplifting and inspiring, whilst being incredibly sad and heart wrenching. Tributes were paid by many and the Church was overflowing with people, family and friends, colleagues from Westfield school and Sea Cadets and from all 3 military services. As a tribute, Yeovilton Air Station suspended flying for the afternoon. Matt was given the most tremendous send off.
That was nearly two years ago. And as a family we reflect on what is Matts legacy? He was and will always be a fantastic Son, Brother, shipmate and class mate. A Son to be proud of and a genuinely warm and loving person. The fondness and warmth in which he was held are both a comfort and a reminder of what we all have lost.
His Mum, Dad and Sister will remain devastated forever and will never stop grieving, of that I am in no doubt. Our house is a quieter much less happy place. Some laughter has returned, occasionally, and we do now smile, something I thought I would never do again.
But we miss him so deeply. We yearn to hug him, to hold him and talk to him, to hear him tell of his awful jokes, but that is not possible despite our prayers and wishes. We talk about him always and that is important; he is our son and brother and will always be and we must remember him. He remains, and always will, a member of our family.
Despite our grief, we have learned to try and think of the positives, not an easy thing to do. We try and remember the 15 fantastic years we had with Matt and the memories that make us smile and feel proud, not the dark thoughts that constantly try and pervade our minds. Photographs and videos, books and models, all reminders of a life lived to the full but one cut so cruelly short.
We cry often. Not every day now but more days than not, usually privately and when we feel particularly low. That is a natural emotion, but I hear Matt saying “come on guys get on with it”, I smile, wipe away the tears and do try and get on! We go to work and to study and have learned to wear our “day time mask” to help us cope with the stress of another day.
Matt was a leading cadet at TS Mantle, Yeovil Sea Cadets. It was his passion and he had one ambition in life and that was to join the Royal Navy and fly fast jets in the Fleet Air Arm. Sadly we’ll never know if that would have happened, but we believe that with Matts dedication and drive he would have succeeded.
Monies donated after Matts passing were shared between the Bristol Children’s hospital PICU for medical equipment and Yeovil Sea Cadets, where a Laser craft was bought and on which his colleagues sail at Sutton Bingham reservoir. The craft is named “Amarillo” after the Peter Kay version of the song. Matt loved Peter Kay and we played that record at his service in St Bartholomew’s, it brought the “house” down as his Sea Cadets mates reprised the infamous dance! Matt would have laughed uncontrollably. If only he could have joined in.
So Matts legacy is one of fantastic and fond memories, of a lad who cared for everyone and had the most wonderful disposition. Of someone we, his family, are so proud of and will never, ever forget. The most difficult aspect to deal with is not knowing what might have been. Our son was turning into a young man on the path to a full and happy life, we thought. What would he have become? How would he have faced up to life’s challenges? What would he be doing today? Questions that will remain unanswered and leave a void that is difficult to comprehend.
Grief is difficult for everyone to deal with. It is also very personal and each individual finds their own way through it. Loosing a child is the most devastating loss for any parent, it is not in the natural order of things and is the most painful form of grief that there is.
Dealing and managing with this loss is draining and exhausting, its an emotional rollercoaster that never ends. We are lucky that we have had the support of family and friends and many colleagues from all walks of life and we thank them all most sincerely. We also apologise for the occasions that we have locked ourselves away from the world in order to cope. We mean no offence but often solitude is the best form of recuperation.
Despite all the pain, we are luckier than many. We had 15 wonderful years with our son, who was an inspiration and a pleasure. We are so proud of him and will love him always.
Our children are our most precious gift. They should be loved and cherished always, remember this especially on those “ordinary” days. May yours always remain ordinary.
God bless you Matt. Fly with the Angels.
Chris Williams, in memory of Matt, 2nd June 1990 – 19th November 2005
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