DAVID PAUL KELLY

My deepest condolences to the Kelly family! My heart is still very broken over it and I know there are simply no words that will provide much comfort or make the pain of this loss any easier.
What I do know though is that Dave knew he was loved and he loved his family and friends deeply in return. He was largely content with his life and wanted for little. He rarely complained and often took pleasure in the simple things, like a sunny day to enjoy a bike ride. I always admired that about him.

Dave and I didn't see each other often in person due to distance, but we had been friends for almost 6 years. During those 6 years we messaged each other at least once a week to check in and update each other on the happenings of our lives. Our favourite things to talk about were rugby and dogs. I am from South Africa, so we often had good banter winding each other up about who's team was better. I loved his sheer faith and patriotism every time he'd try to convince me England would beat us before any game we played against each other.

He often spoke of visiting his parents at least one day out of every weekend, and I'd get so jealous of the delicious meals he'd tell me he was getting fed. The bacon rolls, the sunday roasts...
I'm miss those messages :(

I am devesatetd that I was unable to make the funeral. I wanted so badly to say goodbye and pay my respects. My parents were visiting from South Africa during most of August and we were travelling at the time. I knew deep down David would have wanted me to prioritise them as he would have done.

He messaged me to tell me when he first started feeling something wasn't right and told me he suspected it was labyrinthitis. I've been reading over and over the messages since then trying to figure out how it got from there to here...a world in which he is no longer a part of :(.
I don't think I will ever understand it.

He kept his sence of humour throughout his ordeal. When he told me about his first brain scan coming up, he commented that he hopes they find one (meaning a brain). It made me smile. Hig biggest concern throughout his illness was that he worried about being burdensome on his parents. A true testament to the kind of person he was. Always considerate of others and asking little of this world in return.

I hope the Kelly family know how loved Dave was and can somehow find their way through this. He would want that. For you all to be okay and live a life that makes you happy.

Love Lynne xx