Hayley’s Eulogy

Our Hayley, Milly, Mills, H, Wifey, Bestie …

Twenty-five years of best friends, she constantly told me how much she loved me daily with her memes. We were friendship goals.

She was in our very special girl gang, and we were so lucky to have her. As was anyone else that came across her, and we know she had many incredible groups of friends. She was so very popular, a social butterfly - look how many people are here today. (She would have said where were you at my birthday party). She did always organize the best parties and loved her birthday (or any excuse for a party).

She once described us like a box of chocolates, I can't remember how it went, but it had lines like… some nutty, some soft, some fruity, some hard…. But all made the perfect box. Now our box is no longer perfect. To know Hayley was to understand how she wriggled/ waddled walking in her tiny shorts, that she loved her chocolate and Costa coffee, and always knew the best bottle of wine (she was a wine expert) or the best way to drink a cocktail.

She was honest! So honest! Brutal! And unapologetic about it…

However, this meant if you got praise from her, it would mean the world… She was your cheerleader if you looked good in a dress or lipstick. If there was a bad smell in the area and she suspected it was you… she told everyone in the immediate area (loudly). If she didn't like your boyfriend or what you were doing… she would straight up tell you.

She was beautiful, had an amazing figure, and worked hard for it. The most dedicated gym goer. She did every class (body pump, body combat, body attack, to name a few) at ungodly morning hours. Also, she was so dedicated to fitness that she ran the London marathon whilst injured. Still, she did it in style, raising money for Sparks. We were all so proud of her. She played netball for many years (even for my work team, as she had such FOMO) and basketball at school. I loved how Hayley had such FOMO when it came to anything social.

Travel, Hayley was up for seeing the world Mexico, Miami, Vegas, New York, Bali, Dubai, Zante, and Barcelona, to name a few ( I could never get her to move there, though). She would describe herself as a London girl, a fiery redhead with a big heart for London Town. She brought us all into London for gatherings and had such a special place in her heart for Clapham. Her favourite thing to do was have a picnic (involving wine) on Clapham Common in the sun. Every opportunity she got, she would get herself there. She was the busiest person I have ever met, she had plans for every day 2 months in advance, but she always made you feel important. She always knew the best bars to go to and loved to explore… She was a very fast walker and always dedicated her pace to everything.

Glamour! Hayley was so glam and knew what was in style, her bags, makeup, and clothes (I will genuinely miss her styled outfits daily on Instagram, as will everyone else). She could pull anything off and wore it all with confidence. She had the skimpiest outfits you've ever seen, and if it wasn't skimpy enough, I was lucky enough to receive her clothes. You've never met anyone who receives so many deliveries daily - but that was her passion. She also changed her hair colour so many times over the years. She pulled it all off.. but recently, she was happy being a redhead - it was her superpower. She loved her outfits, makeup and fancy things, but she loved a dive bar and her music. That's who she was to us, a group of friends; She was the fun one to go out drinking in a new trendy bar, she was the one to defend you if a tramp wanted to shout at you, she was the one to hold your hand, eat cookies and watch twilight. She was the one to run next to. She was great to go jumping with at a festival! She was my biggest supporter. She was always there to answer you within minutes, actually seconds (she had her phone next to her all the time and always fully charged - she was so organized and definitely made the most fabulous PA.

I spoke to her daily, and it literally would be what are you watching on Netflix, what did you have for breakfast (she always wanted to know what you were wearing to an event - she had it planned weeks in advance), or if it was during the week it was pretty often how did your date go? Hayley was so great at advice but would usually not take her own and had a habit of picking the wrong men. (Sorry if you are here today - I'm sure you've changed). She truly lived, though; we should all take a bit of life like Hayley.

That was Hayley to us. Fun, glam, loyal, brutally honest, adventurous, witty, girly, our party girl… she loved profoundly and often we would bicker because we were always more like sisters. We did everything together, and she made herself involved in everything (especially if it involved drinks). When intoxicated, she stepped on all of our feet with her high heels, ordered more shots, and accused the bar person that there was no alcohol in her vodka and soda. She was a social butterfly who touched the lives of so many and was so very loved.

Her family, though, was Hayley at her happiest. Just pure love. Her mum Maureen is her hero. She looked up to so much and was proud of everything she did and achieved for her and her sister Kim. Kim was her little sister but always more like her big sister, and she always looked after Hayley. Hayley knew how lucky she was to have a sister like Kim.

Kim and Kim's son Jake were her absolute world. Hayley would've done anything for Jake. She spoke of and loved him as her own. I know she would tell me to look after them, especially Maureen. I promise I will, Mills. (I already got drunk and cried with them last week).

I'm so proud you became an organ donor and have already helped someone. (Your liver has already gone to someone). Surprising, I know - they will wonder why they love whispering angel so much. You are the most wonderful person H and so unique… there is no one like you.

H, I wonder what you'd say to me, and I know you'd say, 'ok, ok, enough with the tears. I'm glad you loved me so much, but you wouldn't get the same out of me, so try to move forward. We'll see you again, H, at that trendy bar in the sky, wearing our skimpy outfits (you'll have the skimpiest, of course), toasting champagne and making many more memories. You're so so loved, and I wish you had known that, and we'll miss you endlessly… You'll always be my wifey and bestie. There will be no one that even can come close. I am so grateful I got to have you by my side for as many years as I did. You're still by my side, and life just won't be the same without you…

She was ours, and now our box of chocolates isn't quite complete and never will be again.

I wish I could hear your crackle of a laugh one more time… I love you, my Hayley. X

xBx