William Peter James Payne Jan. 2, 2006 - Feb. 23, 2025

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Feel No Guilt In Laughter
Feel no guilt in laughter, he’d know how much you care.
Feel no sorrow in a smile that he is not here to share.
You cannot grieve forever; he would not want you to.
He’d hope that you could live your life the way you always do.
So, talk about the good times and the way you showed you cared,
the days you spent together, all the happiness you shared.
Let memories surround you, a word someone may say
will suddenly recapture a time, an hour or a day,
that brings him back as clearly as though he were still here,
and fills you with the feeling that he is always near.
For if you keep those moments, you will never be apart
and he will live forever locked safely within your heart.

William Payne BSc(Hons)

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Will was always present and ready to be involved yet never felt the need to garner attention or announce his arrival. If we asked for volunteers, you would turn around and he would just be there, ready, I suspect thinking ‘or course I am here to help, why would you be suprised to see me’

Will recognised the value his time could have when given to others. He was always identifying ways of raising money for charitable causes, always wanting to leave the world slightly better than he found it. In recognition of this Will was the deserving winner of our school Altruism Award.

Will was a ‘yes’ person – he took the opportunities that came his way in life. He didn’t look to his friends to see if they were going to be involved first, he decided he wanted to be involved and that was enough.

Will was unassuming – he accepted people for who they were. He felt no need to comment on the choices or values of others, to be honest I don’t think it would have occurred to him to form an opinion about another.

Will was proud of who he was and what he stood for. He was our first ambassador to fulfil the role in his BTEC Sport Branded Training Clothes, and when asked if he wanted the chance to change into his suit, proudly declared he was a BTEC Sport student – he realised the power of sport in people’s lives and had plans to use it for good.

Will cared about others, he instinctively knew the value of a kind word, a selfless deed. It has become clear that Will touched many, many, lives in this way and he will be remembered by lots of people in thid positive light.

Will appreciated what he had. He didn’t waste his time expressing anger or upset with the world at having to manage his Epilepsy, he put a system in place to cope and got on with the job of living life.

Will knew he was loved deeply and this gave him the confidence to spread his wings and experience freedom as his own man, living his best life at University.

Will’s days were far too few, but he made them count. Those of us with time still to spend would do well in reflecting on and learning from Will’s approach.