Sadness and loss fills our souls and hearts that is deep and so personal to each and every one of us.

Wendi has quietly closed the untimely door of life and departed from us. Our lives will be desolate in the so many areas that she had brightened for us.

I have been privileged and fortunate to have known Wendi since 1999 when she was working at Axxent Voice and Data with Martin Flick, Paul Butler and the team. Her understated friendly and humble manner whilst having an amazing intellect, attention to detail and planning was who she was. Never underestimate Wendi analysis skills; she had already worked out all of the permutations, scenarios and calculated the right outcome.

In the early days we used to compete with who could start and work the longest hours and days….Strange and unusual it may seem however a life of service and absolute duty to help others made her smile. The fuel of work was the energy that made her shine brighter! Never afraid to take on a challenge and I always lost as did others in any competitions, whilst she was the true Olympian.

Whilst Wendi was qualified by life experience, she put many an arrogant and stuffy professional to rights. In the over 12 acquisitions she was involve in, a 30 year experienced  professional was left babbling with the simple but effective forensic questions she asked, a business owner was shown to be untruthful and deceptive. She valued honesty, truthfulness and transparency and had no time for spin or deceitful people. Her intuition always proved right!

Whether it be a financial budget, a critical and complex piece of analysis, Wendi completed the analytical task with no fuss and relentlessly achieved fulfilment with the more she could do. She was able to seamlessly learn at a pace that others could not and replicate the task, whilst demonstrating how logical and efficient any piece of work could be made. Wendi carried out the tasks and activities of 4 people! and made so light work of it. Fellow work colleagues and friends admired her work ethic and can-do and helpful / supportive attitude whilst bringing on a smile and warmth to herself and those who she could chat hours-and-hours with.

She became a legend in the Telecoms field, not only in business acquisitions, but cash management and business survival. Indeed I and countless others who were blessed and touched by Wendi owe our businesses, careers and fortunes to her. The dark and desolate days we have all had would not have been overcome without Wendi being shoulder-to-shoulder. She turned despair-into-hope and night-into-day and an epitaph of  what we all can achieve if we put our hearts and minds into our aspirations and self-confidence and belief.

When I had my own family challenges at azzurri, Wendi was there for me, she organised my arrangements and also knew how to cheer me and my family with the support of the team and business. I could not count on a better friend!

Both in work and personally you will never find a Wendi again. They don’t grow and raise the old virtues of a look in the eye, a handshake, trust and integrity!

She valued her work and her own family and whilst I tirelessly tried to change Wendi work / life balance as we young-timers became old-timers, she would have none of this and said this is what I enjoy; I revel in the detail of learning and being the encyclopaedia. I can see her now on my shoulder and each day, in her characteristic way reminding me to move on and control what we can only control and not see back….Onwards and Upwards!

The value of a person should be seen in what they give, and not what they receive. In one word, Wendi always gave, and continually gave………….a life that exemplified brilliance….. a life that inspired emulation………….a life that burned so that other’s path were lit. Friendship is not about who you have known the longest. It’s about who came….and stayed by your side and left you when you needed someone the most and in both personal, work and business matters she was always there for us on a dark Sunday night or rainy Wednesday morning.  

If Wendi was here she would say:-
Goodbye to all my colleagues. Today is not the end because throughout my time with you all we became friends. We will see each other soon.