Memorial website in the memory of your loved one
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.


A Message From Emma  
Seems as though it's been a while,
Since you were born to us,
We didn't get to spend much time,
Only a few small years.

I missed the times when I would blow,
bubbles on your tummy,
Or show off all the things you did,
to your loving mummy.

I know that she miss's you,
As each day rolls by,
3 whole weeks since she held you,
My brother when you were alive.

Why you left us remains unknown,
For that there was no cause,
Why your breathing was so strong,
For what reason did you pause?

I guess I shouldn't ask you that,
It's easy for me to want to,
Please know my baby brother Joshua,
Just how much we love you.


My Son  
Second son born to be mine,
on a sunny Mayday in eighty-nine.
A cheeky lad with a twinkling smile,
always happy, never cried.
Loved to show off, be a clown,
never let things get you down.
Broken arms & dirty knees,
baseball cap for all to see.
A quick witted mind, you knew it all,
but somehow knew when to play ball.
A big boy now, a place in the marines?
Everyone thought that you were supreme.
Your sweetheart girlies, you loved them so much
Was there anyone's heart you failed to touch?
Off to work on my bike, you'd say,
I prayed for your safe return everyday.
Then you called me from your precious phone
Give me 10 minutes mum and I will be home
Four hours later we hear the news
that Angel wings, you had grew.
Our hearts are breaking, the days are long
How can it be so; that you have gone?
Our lives are empty without our precious son.
In a different place, where we don't belong.
But he's still singing for those he knew
Can you hear his song? We hear him too


A message from your mum - My Angel  
Josh, you loved dancing and wouldn't mind being seen dancing with young or old, me or nannie. We would always dance to Lionel Richie's 'Angel', normally in the kitchen and the last time we danced was at Emma's wedding when you came and found me the minute it was on. I never really took much notice of the words until we lost you, because it was the beat we enjoyed so much. The words are now my message to you sweetheart:

'Angel'
I just want to tell you all the things you are
And all the things you mean to me
You've been with me forever
Through the changes in my life
Through all the tears and laughter

When I find myself believing there's no place to go
When I feel the loneliness inside my heart

You're the answer to my prayers
And you're with me everywhere
You're my angel, miracle, you're all I need tonight
Give me shelter from the rain
You breathe life in me again
You're my angel, miracle, you're all I need to know, tonight

Life is just a moment
We're blowing in the wind
We're trying to find a friend
And only time can tell us
If win or if we lose
And who will stand beside us

When there's darkness all around me
You're the light I see
When I need someone to ease my troubled mind

You're the answer to my prayers
And you're with me everywhere
You're my angel, miracle, you're all I need tonight
Give me shelter from the rain
You breathe life in me again
You're my angel, miracle, you're all I need to know, tonight

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.


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