Karen pringle

Some people leave an impression the moment you meet them. James certainly did—but not quite in the way I expected.

We met at work over 23 years ago. I worked in the office and James was one of the vehicle technicians. From the day we met, he kept asking me out. I remember thinking he was like an annoying gnat that just wouldn’t leave me alone! Eventually, I gave in and agreed to a date. Looking back now, I’m so thankful that I did.

That one date turned into more than 23 wonderful years together and 20 years of marriage. On 14th June 2005, we escaped to Antigua, just the two of us, to get married. It was perfect for us, and one of the happiest days of our lives.

If you knew James, you’ll know he was one of a kind. He was unbelievably stubborn (although he’d tell you he was simply always right!), endlessly sarcastic, and loved nothing more than winding people up. He had a wicked sense of humour and an answer for everything. Life with James was never quiet, never boring, and never short of laughter.

Then cancer changed our lives.

Over the years, James faced countless appointments, treatments and setbacks with incredible determination. The wonderful team at The Royal Marsden in Sutton gave us something that can never be repaid—time. Time to make more memories, time to laugh together, and time to simply be together as a family.

As his illness progressed, I became his carer, exactly as he wanted. Caring for James was never something I saw as a burden; it was an act of love. We faced every challenge side by side, and although there were difficult days, we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

Even towards the end, James was still thinking about everyone else. One of the last things he asked my daughters was to make sure I would be okay after he was gone. That was James all over. He wasn’t always the best at saying how he felt, but moments like that showed just how deeply he loved his family. To him, I was always simply “the wife,” and somehow, hearing those words became one of my greatest comforts.

James passed away on 17th September 2025, a date that will forever hold mixed emotions for our family as it was also our granddaughter Neeve’s fifth birthday. Despite everything he endured, he fought for every extra moment he could have with the people he loved, and those extra months and years are memories we’ll treasure forever.

Taking on the Marsden walk is my way of honouring James and saying thank you to the incredible staff at The Royal Marsden in Sutton. Their care, compassion and dedication gave us hope and, most importantly, precious time together. I will never be able to thank them enough.

Every step I take will be for James—the mechanic who never stopped asking me out, the husband who made me laugh every day, the man who could test my patience like nobody else, and the love of my life.

James will always be with me. In every memory, every smile, every sarcastic comment that still makes me laugh, and every step of this walk.

This one’s for you, James. Love Always. 💙