Zoe, Mark, Ellie & Ben Bradford

It’s taken me a while to write something on here for you Katie, but I got there eventually!  I am in no doubt that if the tables were turned, you would be the first one to pay tribute.

I have been trying to remember the first time we met – it would have been some time in late 2005/early 2006 through our husbands.  Having 2 children since then meant I, unfortunately, didn’t get out much with all the Wokingham gang, so it was only in the last couple of years that I felt we really started to become close friends.  I was so looking forward to spending more time with you.

When I think about you, what I remember most is your wonderful smile and how you could light up a room when you walked in (I was also very jealous of your beautifully tanned skin).  You looked absolutely stunning on your wedding day and Mark and I felt very privileged to share your special day with you.  It was such an amazing day and all the photos prove it!  I was digging out an overnight bag for Mark recently and had a little moment remembering that wonderful day when I found a pair of flip-flops from your venue that I’d used to carry on dancing when my heels had got too much!

Another time I will never forget is the journey to your hen weekend.  Peta was driving with us as passengers, we had no sat-nav (big mistake!) and the printed instructions were pretty useless.  You remained so calm, even though inside I could tell you were very frustrated and just wanted to get there – thanks to some telephone instructions from Helen we eventually did!  And of course a fantastic time was had by all.  The following weekend I went out and bought a sat-nav.

The last time I spoke to you was over text a few days before you were tragically taken from us.  You and Rich were due at ours for dinner that weekend, a dinner we had been trying to sort out for about a year – I still can’t believe you never made it.  I was so looking forward to hearing all about your honeymoon and had told you to bring all your photos, even though you were worried you would bore us silly!  I still have one of the texts and look at it from time to time. The night you left us I was sat down with my cookery books looking for inspiration. I wish I could tell you now what I was going to cook for you, but I couldn’t decide, I just know I had wanted it to be something special to celebrate yours & Rich’s new married life together.

Katie – you were such an amazing person, always thinking of other people, a very loyal friend and stunningly beautiful.

I would like you to know that I will do my best to help raise awareness and try my hand at fundraising like you so often did.  I can honestly say you are in our thoughts everyday, I miss you so much and I will never forget you.

Zoe, Mark, Ellie & Ben Bradford xxxx