We met at university and, while there, Vicky read Geography with her studies culminating in the completion of her Master of Philosophy. During time studying for her Degree and MPhil Vicky spent 4 weeks working on a water project in Ethiopia and a further 4 months working on a similar project in South Africa.
It is for these reasons that we have committed to raising funds for 'Vicky's Water Project' - a year long campaign to raise £226,000 to be used by Action Aid to bring water to a town of 18,200 people in Ethiopia and the opportunity to create a tangible legacy of Vicky's life. For the last 3 years Vicky and I have participated in the Great North Run and for this reason 200 friends and family of Vicky's have committed to running the Great North Run in September for 'Vicky's Water Project'.After completing University Vicky joined Chelsea Pitch Owners, a part of Chelsea Football Club, and she subsequently rose to Head of Operations. During her last 12 months she was charged with running Chelsea's Centenary Celebrations which saw her organise 8 events in 9 months across 6 venues, with as many as 1400 guests at any one event - all of which were a huge success. The many friends and colleagues she made at Chelsea Football Club had a great affection and great respect for Vicky and were shocked by her death. The week Vicky was killed was to be her last at Chelsea and, having learnt so much at Stamford Bridge, she was excited at the prospect of a new challenge running events at venues such as the National Gallery.
Vicky's greatest passion and one of her most remarkable gifts was her capacity for friendship, a capacity that knew no boundaries. Certainly not gender where her banter and wit were adored and, at times, feared by all. Certainly not age, where she revelled in the company of young nieces and nephews or dazzled my grandparents with her charm and beauty of spirit. And most certainly not the boundary of time or distance for she was such a true, such a loyal and such an active friend. Whether you had known her all your life or had met her through university or in life since then you were always assured when re-united that here was a true friend who valued you dearly.
When Vicky spent time with people she invested herself totally in that moment and had the most incredible gift for making that person feel special, making them feel the best that they could. She was always the first to ask questions about you, to listen, to laugh and most of all smile - a beaming smile that could energise others. She could make you feel as if you were the only person in that room but also draw all those in that room closer together. For in friendship she had the most magical capacity for creating and cementing lasting bonds between others. This was wonderfully illustrated on an annual basis at her birthday by a huge array of friends who would convene on Primrose Hill for a picnic and a hotly contested game of rounders. Everyone there for one simple reason - their affection for Vicky and Vicky's affection for them.
And Vicky's capacity for friendship has bridged the ultimate boundary - that of life and death. She invested so much of herself in so many of us; invested so much of her joy, enthusiasm and laughter, that her friendship will always remain as will the bonds she built between so many - this being perfectly illustrated by the 200 friends and family who have committed to run the Great North Run.. And when spending time now with Vicky's friends and family it is always so evident how much of her remains and how, when someone gives so much of themselves in life, death cannot take all of that person from you.
In Jack and Val Vicky has two parents whom she loved dearly and who love her dearly. Two people who created and crafted the most incredible individual, gave her the space and freedom to grow into the most wonderful, confident, beautiful young woman and gave me a thing more precious than I could ever imagine. They were two wonderful friends that Vicky, and then I, loved to spend time with, whether it be a weekend at the family home in Sevenoaks or a family holiday in Italy. She was also lucky enough to have two inspiring big sisters in Ali and Sarah both of whom were devoted to Vicky in equal measure and were a constant source of friendship, support and happiness. Then beyond her immediate family Vicky benefited from a relationship with her extended family that I know brought her as much pleasure as it did them. The death of Vicky has had a huge impact on everyone but Vicky's parents and sisters continue to show immense courage in celebrating all that Vicky was and so much that she still is.
In amongst the absolute devastation of losing someone so special a message that Vicky's family and I have encountered regularly was how lucky and how privileged people felt to have had Vicky in their life. And no one is luckier, no one more privileged than me for I was blessed with so much of Vicky for so long.
When I think of Vicky I find it impossible not to think of her with a smile on her face or laughing and our flat in Kilburn was and will always be filled with her happiness and her laughter.
Beyond the overpowering sense of joy she brought me she also filled me with another emotion - an immense sense of pride - and this was something I would often tell her. My pride arose from many things but as much the fact that Vicky was someone who seemed, whatever the situation, whatever the company, to give everything of herself.
I always knew that this was never more true than where I was concerned for she was so willing to immerse herself in my life and my passions. For her it was not a burden but a means of becoming an ever greater component of me and taking happiness from the things I took happiness from. This sense of shared ownership that ran through so many aspects of our life together ensures that Vicky will be forever present in so many different places. And, whether it be wandering across Hampstead Heath, perched on top of Primrose Hill or lying by the side of a cricket pitch, I know I can always find Vicky there.
The last weekend we spent together was perfect - a whole weekend that was just the two of us. The evenings were spent curled up on a sofa together. On Saturday we went for walks around Islington and Highgate and, as was our way, Vicky would tend to talk and entertain and I would listen and simply bask in the happiness and comfort her presence brought. On Sunday, a brilliant warm October day, we went for a run along the Thames from Kew Gardens. We went to sleep on Sunday night with the sort of incredible happiness that could only have come from a weekend immersed in each others company.
And on that Tuesday morning it was with the same incredible sense of happiness she left for work on her bike and that same happiness is all she will ever know.
She will be forever a thing of incredible beauty and of overwhelming happiness, a dazzling light that illuminated all our lives, that will continue to bring warmth and sunshine to so many of us for so long to come.
