Christmas 2023: My world came crashing down. My dad and lifetime best friend was rushed into the hospital on Christmas Eve, where he lost his ongoing battle with COPD. I was devastated. The next few weeks went by in a blur, and I was kept busy with preparing his funeral and clearing out his home, the latter, a task I found oddly cathartic—finding all those little keepsakes that spark happy memories, from school reports for my brother suggesting if he applied himself better he would be a model student, a hideous bow-tie my younger brother wore as a page boy, or an old birthday card my now fully grown sons, with their own kids, had made for their grandad when they were barely able to write.
Turning Grief into Inspiration
After his funeral, I was left with a void in my life and wanted to channel my grief. I had always been creative, making unique gifts and cards for family and friends, something that my dad had always said I should try and do for a business, but something I had never really explored the option of doing.
I also wanted to help comfort his grand and great-grandkids by making them something that would help them in their grieving, that they could hold when they were feeling down and cherish forever, just as we had done by finding our old memories scattered around his home. So, using their favourite items of clothing he had worn, I set about making these very special symbols of love and remembrance, shortly after the very first Freddy's Friends were born.
A New Beginning
It is now an honour to hand-make friends for every occasion, using the clothes and fabrics that have such deep meaning for so many people, each friend coming from their own story and not just the passing of a loved one, clothing from a couple's first date for their anniversary, a graduation gown for that perfect student when they get married, or even a cherished pet blanket so they can always be there for a cuddle, each beautifully hand-crafted Friend going on to make a million more memories.
My dad always made friends easy; he always had time for everyone; he would feed strangers (I'll miss his triple stack bacon butties); help those in need; and he never expected anything in return. Everyone ended up becoming Freddy's friends.
He was my best friend, and I think he would have been one of yours too.
