Sadly, our dear Jamie passed away unexpectedly on Friday 16th Oct.
Jamie will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him. He was a very talented and award winning interior designer and he leaves a lasting legacy in his completed designs in many homes and businesses around the UK and in Europe. One of his clients wrote a tribute that really resonates with his family: "The world will be a darker place without the light and colour that was Jamie".
Jan, Jamie's wife, writes: "We had found happiness together and I can honestly say the time we’ve had together have been the happiest and most peaceful of our lives. We had plans to grow old together in Wales, though joked about what a grumpy git he would be! He never wanted to grow old - he remained vain until the end and we often laughed about who spent the most money on lotions and potions."
Jamie's family is comforted by the fact that he now rests in peace. Jamie passed at a very similar age to his beloved father, Barry, who died from cancer aged 57 in 1991. Jamie is survived by his wife, Jan; his mother, Sandra; his three sisters, Kay, Christine, and Laura, and his brother, Dickon. Laura is particularly sad that Jamie will not get to see her little son, Louie, grow up. Jamie's passing also leaves a big gap in the lives of his three step-children, Jack, Emily and George, and his grown-up niece, Harriet, and nephew, Callum, together with his many, many friends and colleagues.
Jamie had battled alcoholism for over 30 years and despite long periods in recovery, the alcohol got the better of him in the end. He fought so hard to beat it. When he did relapse he would binge drink “to turn his head off”. He didn’t enjoy drinking or want to drink. To honour Jamie's memory Jan has established a JustGiving page to raise money to support people in recovery. Jamie's family invite you to donate to this memorial fund in place of flowers at: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jamiehempsall
“We're the bridge across forever, arching above the sea, adventuring for our pleasure, living mysteries for the fun of it, choosing disasters triumphs challenges impossible odds, testing ourselves over and again, learning love and love and love!”
― Richard Bach, The Bridge Across Forever: A True Love Story