Memorial website in the memory of your loved one

1st May 1989

10th October 2005

 

Don't ever believe that I am dead and gone

I want you to know that in spirit I live on

Never weep when you gaze at that one empty chair

Don't you know that quite often I come and sit there.

I still know when you're ill, when you'v had a bad day

I am only a whisper, a heartbreak away.

For I still walk where you walk, I still hold your hand.

My footsteps aren't there when you walk through the sand,

But my voice can be heard in the sound of the sea

Or in a little child's laughter when it's bounced on your knee.

I whisper to you in the still of the night

If you could see me you'd know I'm alright.

So search with your eyes, you may glimpse me one day

As I stand there and watch little children at play.

My spirit lives on although my earthtime is done

I'm still part of of you that is lit from the sun.

So smile for me please, I don't ant you to grieve,

I'm well and I'm strong, I didn't really leave.

 

 

Click Here for Photo Movie

These teddy bears were made by a wonderful lady called Shari from http://www.tbtembroidery.com/memory-bears.html near Chicago.  The blue bear is made from Josh's printed shorts and a light blue track suit. I love the stripes down his leg that were on the legs of the joggers. You can see Josh wearign these shorts int he picture of him climbing up the side of a boat. This teddy now lives with Paula and Gary.

 

This black striped teddy is made from a smart shirt that Josh wore to numerous events and wore out in the evening on holiday. This teddy now lives with Wendy and Marcus.

Josh's LA Lakers basketball shirt is in a frame on his bedroom wall but this teddy has been made from the shorts. The main black colour is from another dress short that he wore at his sister's 21st, Grandad's 70th and mum's 40th birthdays. This teddy now lives with Emma and David.






16th November
Suzanne Simmons was today found guilty of driving without due care and attention. She has been banned from driving for 15 months, fined £450 and asked to pay £455 in court costs.


http://www.theargus.co.uk/display.var.1027850.0.450_fine_for_joshuas_killer.php


Joshua Antony Skinner

This memorial website was created in the memory of Joshua Skinner our wonderful son. He was born in United Kingdom on May 01, 1989 and was killed tragically in a road traffic accident on October 10, 2005 at the age of 16. We will remember him forever. Please let him live on in all of your hearts and this website is dedicated to his memory and to all of his fellow students and friends. Please use this site to leave messages, condolences and light a memorial candle. Use it as much as you want. I know so many of you have experienced death for the first time with Joshua and I hope that this website will not only keep his memory alive for you but will comfort you in many years to come when sadly you may have to experience grief once again. Please take care of yourselves and remember that you are not invincible.

Gary and Paula Skinner

 


       
The memorial garden at our home is now finished and anyone who would like to see it is very welcome. Josh's stone is installed at the Lancing and Sompting cemetery where his ashes are interred.



March 29th - The Inquest Report from Brighton Evening Argus. Follow the link or see the entry under Josh's Timeline.
http://archive.theargus.co.uk/2006/3/29/209362.html



As a way of letting Josh's family know you visited his site, Please light a candle, before you leave. Thank you for dropping by.


Josh was a former pupil of St Andrews Boys School, Worthing and attended Chichester College where he was on a public services course as he wanted to be a marine. He would have made a wonderful marine because he excelled when the discipline was strict. He loved his new found friends and was never reluctant to drag himself out of his bed to attend each morning. He also worked for McDonalds at the Holmbush Centre in Shoreham where again he made many new found friends that he loved being with.
On Monday 10th October 2005 he had been at college for most of the day and I met him at home around 4pm. He was just going to see Danielle before starting work. He was very happy and kissed me goodbye. At 7.30 he rang me in his break to ask if he could go to a party the next day and to tell me he would finish his shift at 10.30. Just after 10.30pm he called to say he was tired and was coming straight home, "Bye mum he said, see you in 10 to 15 minutes." As he only had a 50cc scooter he would normally avoid the A27 dual carriageway across the Shoreham flyover but would sometimes use it when he knew that traffic would be light. As he was approaching the start of the flyover he was knocked from his bike by another vehicle. He was knocked unconscious immediately and died very soon after. People will be comforted to know that he would have known nothing about it. The police woke us at 1.45am to give us the bad news, an event that haunts me almost every night even now. When the police took us to the hospital to see Josh that mischievous cheeky grin and sparkle in the eyes had gone so watch out everyone who knew him because he is all around you enjoying your fun with you.
There will be an inquest around March time but it will be a formality. The family have laid Josh to rest and there are no regrets, he died when he was at his most happiest and he managed to get round to so many people in his final two weeks so that he was at one with himself and all who cared for him. We desperately wish he was still with us every minute of the day and in order to gain something positive from all of the sadness we have set up a memorial fund in his name.


The Joshua Skinner Memorial Fund has been set up to raise money to provide awards and equipment for current and future pupils at the schools and college he attended. Education staff have provided tremendous love and support to Josh's family and your donations to such a good cause is appreciated.

There is a slideshow with a lot more photos at http://joshskinner.shutterfly.com/action
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Can You Hear Him?
Listen carefully - In your heart, he’s still singing
Taken so quickly, so tragically,
But, in your heart, he’s still singing

You’re asking why, why was he taken from us so young?
But ask why he lived
He lived to make his mark on the world
and for us to remember him
He lived to bring joy into our lives
He lived for sport, He lived for music, He lived to laugh
He lived to share and to give to and help others
He lived to sing – and he’s still singing

When you remember that he’s not there,
try not to think about what’s been lost
But think about what we gained
We all gained, Da boys gained, Me girlies gained
His aunties and uncles gained
His sisters and brother-in-law gained
His brother gained, His nannie and granddad gained
His mum and his dad gained, He sang – and he’s still singing

He wasn’t perfect – far from it
Don’t remember him better than he was – you don’t need to
He sang – and he’s still singing

Things are never quite the way they seem and Joshua,
Joshua would have made an awfully brave marine
He sang – and in our hearts He’s still singing 

 


On Tuesday 1st May 2007 we celebrated Josh's 18th birthday in style. With nearly 200 friends and relatives Gary and I renewed our wedding vows in the church where Josh was christened. We let off 18 balloons before the service, 16 blue for his time with us and 2 white for his time in his new world. We had a wonderful day, please check out the photos to see all the smiling faces.

 


Click here to see Joshua Skinner (PANTS)'s
Family Tree
Tributes and Condolences
4 years   / Kia-rhiannon Prentice (best friend )
well.... where to start... Tomorrow will be 4 years since you were taken.... but i've found today very hard... this time 4 years ago u met me b4 college and we walked to the station... we messed around the whole way there. laughing joking just being...  Continue >>
hello babes   / Kia-rhiannon Prentice (bestest friend )
Just a quick not to say im thinking of you!! went  to your mum and sisters birthday bbq last week and it was awsom to see everyone!! your mum is loking really really good...im sure u know but i like to think im telling you something new lol!! ...  Continue >>
Hey!  / Eric Noga (brother in spirit )
I don't know who you are or anything about you but I found your facebook group randomly. I thought I would stop by on here and leave you a note saying that from what I have read you were an amazing kid! I'm happy your spirit is in heaven with the ...  Continue >>
whoop  / Kia Prentice (best friend )
oh my oh my josh,
 i went to the hollyoaks charity football match today and carried your picture around and met famous people.... lots of pics to go on your facebook group!! whoop, i literally run around screaming out peoples names to get t...  Continue >>
happy birthday.   / Kay Skinner (lil sis )
Happy birthday josh! i hope ure having a good time wherever you are! i will release a baloon later this afternoon for you i hope you see it!! forever loved and always in my thoughts xxxxx
Thank you for the past 12 months to…..  / Paula (Mum)    Read >>
20th Birthday  / Paula Skinner (Mum)    Read >>
hello sweetie  / Kia-rhiannon Prentice (bestest girlie )    Read >>
hiii / Danielle Webb (Friend)    Read >>
hello buddy  / Luke Scrase (good mate )    Read >>
Miss you xx  / Charly Burdfield (Friend from college )    Read >>
Was it you in that BMW ?  / Dave (Brother in Law )    Read >>
Christmas Eve  / Nannie &. Grandad     Read >>
Christmas Day Tradition  / Emma (Sister)    Read >>
Dodgy Mistletoe  / Daddua     Read >>
More tributes and condolences...
Click here to pay tribute or offer your condolences
His legacy
The Four Peak Challenge  

Josh's public services group from Chichester College 'The Bronzes' climbed four peaks in aid of Josh's fund. The four peaks they were to conquer in just 6 days were:

Ben Nevis 1344 metres
Scafell Pike 978 metres
Mount Snowdon 1085 metres
Pen Y Fan 886 metres

This is Ray Ewins account of the trip.

Arrived back from the 4 peaks mid afternoon on Friday 9th June 2006. It's taken till now to gather my thoughts, energy and time to put down what happened!!
Well we travelled North to Fort William on Saturday 3rd June at 1030. After almost a 12hr journey we finally arrived in Fort William having been told on the journey by text that our accommodation and guide were no longer available! We eventually found various beds in some gnat infested hostel at £13.00 per person. I shared a bunk space with a German family! With the rest of the group spread around the hostel. The morning could not arrive quick enough! All up, bitten by gnats, tired, no breakfast, no guide and off we went in search of Ben Nevis.
We quickly stumbled over the thing, no more that 1 mile from our questionable accommodation. 0630 and we started to climb, absolutely fantastic experience, no guide, beautiful weather, views beyond any before with a group of young people who were, like Josh, 'Up for it'. We climbed and climbed, some 4 hours later we are stood on the peak, in snow, exhausted but smiling (photo's to follow). We carved Josh's name took photo's had some food and a snowball fight in the spirit of Josh and started back down. Almost 3hrs to return to the bus, a total of 8hrs walk, then a 5 hour drive south to the Lake district and Scafell Pike.
We arrived in a place called Loweswater at 2100 our accommodation was Swallow Barn.....WE knew it couldn't be as bad as the night before, but we did wonder at the cost £6.00 per person. This was a cause for concern the whole trip south!! Well it turned out to be stables!! But we were all so tired it didn't really matter what it was. Up early, breakfast an onto Scafell Pike for 0800. A very hard and testing climb, two in two days, step and at times dangerous. Once again we plastered Josh over the biggest rock we could find and talked about how Josh would have loved the experience. I can honestly say that he was always in our thoughts as we ventured on the challenge and as the challenge at times became hard so we called on Josh.
Down from Scafell we drove to Mount Snowdon and stayed in an old Naval Cottage at Bethesda, one Neil and I had used when in the RN. So we knew we would have a good nights sleep and good food and a well earned beer or two.
Tuesday was rest day, we went to Rhyl and had an ice cream!!! First thing Wednesday we climbed Snowdon, legs tired, really hot off we went, 4 hours later we are on the top having a cuppa in the cafe, dreading the downward trip, as by now the legs are tired and the joints feel every downward jarring movement, the train looked inviting, but the £14.00 cost down didn't. So off we went, at the bottom into the bus for a 3 hour drive to the Brecon Beacon's to our good friend Owen's Pub, The White Heart in Taly Bont on Usk. Where he accommodated and fed us for 2 nights for no charge. He also made a contribution of £100.00 to the fund and a pint mug collection from his regulars. A true diamond geezer. He now wants to be on next years Josh's challenge.
Thursday with hangovers we climbed Peny Fan, glad and sad that we were at the end of our expedition having travelled 2,421 miles, and climbed 4,293 mts, our journey was nearing an end. We had been together 6 nights and all shared a unique experience for a young man that we all enjoyed being around. This trip will be with us forever, fantastic doesn't come close enough.

The Joshua Skinner Memorial Fund  
Joshua had two great loves, music theatre and sport, particularly basketball. The Joshua Skinner Memorial Fund has been set up to raise money to provide awards and equipment for current and future pupils at the schools and college he attended. Education staff have provided tremendous love and support to Josh's family and your donations to such a good cause is appreciated. Details of how the fund is being distributed will be updated here shortly.

White Styles Middle School - Sompting
http://www.whitestylescm.w-sussex.sch.uk/

St Andrews Boys School - Worthing
http://www.st-andrews-boys.w-sussex.sch.uk/

Chichester College
http://www.chichester.ac.uk/general/index.htm

Donations can be sent made payable to The Joshua Skinner Memorial Fund, c/o Mrs Sandra Grant, 1 Cissbury Road, Worthing, West Sussex. BN14 9LD
Wendy’s Tribute to Joshua / Wendy Skinner (Sister)  
I started asking our family how they would sum up Joshua in a few words and they either said there are no few words or it depended what day you caught him on.
“An all round good bloke” one of his friends told me.
My new brother in law David told my sister Emma that if he was half as happy as Joshua was then he will be a very content man.
He was always genuine, loyal, loving, and thoughtful with a wicked sense of humour. These are just a few words people have said, however, there was a united front that he was mischievous, sensitive and strong but a bit of a clown who did a brilliant Jim Carey impression and had silly names for everyone.

Although a highly intelligent boy as I am sure you will all agree but he had his blonde moments. He was in the shed with our dad who told him “josh mate, this modelling knife is really, really sharp. Not just a little sharp, it is very sharp” So with that Joshua took up that knife and ran it along the tip of his finger to see how sharp ‘sharp’ really was. As you can imagine he cut it quite bad but he would not complain that he was in any pain or discomfort, he would merely get on with it. He would fall out a tree or off a swing and break his wrist and be more concerned with waking a father who was sleeping off a heavy night shift than complaining of hurt. I can’t remember Joshua being so ill he was laid up in bed, he did not get the 24 hour bug like most, he got the 6 hour special.

Joshua, or Pants as he was known to us because he insisted that clothes were not always necessary so he would remove them as he walked through the front door, was a very loyal person. Recently he was offered the opportunity to go on a field trip to the New Forest on the 22nd of September, the only problem was that we had a rather important wedding the next day and rather than let his big sister Emma down he was to catch a train in the early hours of the morning after barely any sleep whilst all his friends slept soundly in their beds. With this in mind he packed his bags ready for the New Forest. The following morning our mum went into his room and woke him. He sat bolt upright and said “I’m up, I’m awake”. He leapt out of bed (completely naked of course) grabbed his bag and headed down to the door saying “I’m off to the new forest mum”. When it was suggested a shower and some clothes maybe in order he just shrugged and said “yeah, ok, If I must”. He was never embarrassed or ashamed of being like that, what a wonderful way to be.
Joshua did not say I love you that often but he was full of L.Y.L. and P.T.B. For all of those who don’t have short hand text as their mother tongue that stands for Love ya loads, please text back. It was very apparent in the little things he did for you that showed how much he loved you, like making you a cup of tea when you were upset or making sure you were not alone at night while the rest of the family were away on trips, or just simply ringing to say he was alright.

People took instantly to Joshua, most recently our 4 year old cousin Laura who met Joshua for the first time July as she lives in New York. She would hide from everyone behind her daddy’s legs but Joshua would say “Laura, want to play on the swings” to which Laura would swiftly drop daddy’s hand and say ok josh lets go. She now has a picture of him on his wall, not anyone famous or cartoons or teletubbies, Just Joshua.

He would always make believe that things did not bother or upset him but in truth he would be gutted but would brush it off with a joke or a gag. If there was an extended period of silence he would say “can you that, it is the sound of someone not caring” well Joshua, can you hear us today? It is the sound of people caring. There have been many tears shed by our family in recent weeks both happy and sad but we will be strong for those we have lost and for those of us that are left behind.

Joshua recently started a public services course at Chichester College in September and his new found friends may not be surprised to learn that during his primary school years Joshua’s first love was musical theatre and he would sing constantly. Dad would always say that he could hear him coming home from school before he got there because he was always treated to his own rendition of I’m getting married in the morning or I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts followed by a ‘hi honey I’m home’ as he came in the door. His favourite treat was to go to London to on of the many musicals he loved and the hardest job was stopping him from singing along, especially with the cast of Grease

As well as singing he would dance and just in the past few days the family have gained comfort from watching him at his sister’s wedding doing a wicked impression of David Brent from the Office and dancing round some handbags.

The house will be very quiet without Joshua, no loud music for tidying his bedroom, no constant ringing of the doorbell from people wondering if josh can come out to play and no clown like acrobatics onto the roof of the shed or over the banister and stairs. Joshua was never worried about showing people he was sensitive and strong, he could pick up a new born baby whilst discussing his dreams of one day becoming a marine. He allowed himself to be both a child and an adult, he kept his lollipops in his top drawer with his cigarette papers and we had a real job persuading him that it would not do his street cred much good if he took Dino the cuddly dinosaur to the forest with him. Joshua, we promise to sing you all the musicals we know and play our music really loud, we will cry openly at Blood Brothers as you did and think of you fondly when we watch chitty-chitty bang-bang. The Louis dog still misses you and looks for you from your bedroom window but in time he will realise that you’re in a better place. So Joshua, let this not be goodbye, just merely goodnight. Nighty Nighty Joshua, Pyjama Pyjama.

More of his legacy...
 
Joshua's Photo Album
Bear made from Josh's swimming shorts
Jump To:
Go to Album >> Open full-screen Slideshow >>
Transfer Photos into a Hardbound Book >>

Bring the memories home by publishing your online memorial as a genuine hardcover keepsake