That’s right; Liam Boylan and I will be running the Great North Run this year in memory of our friend and former colleague Elliot Waterhouse.

On 1st January 2013, Elliot and his wife Angela were celebrating the birth of their first daughter Georgina. Just 3 days later, Elliot passed away holding Georgina as he waited for Angela and their daughter to be discharged; the cause of death would later be confirmed as (SAD) due to cardiomyopathy. Elliot was just 34 years old.  

Those of you who knew Elliot will know the sort of character he was and will have been as shocked and saddened as we were. Sometime ago, Liam and I decided to do something in his memory but we wanted to have the permission of Elliot’s family before we made this public and we are grateful to Elliot’s parents, Keith and Larraine for giving us their blessing. 

For those who didn’t know him, Larraine has written the account below which will show the kind of person Elliot was and maybe explain a little more as to why two middle aged men (that should know better) are determined to do Elliot proud.

Thank you

Liam and Andy

 

ELLIOT KEITH WATERHOUSE 8 APRIL 1978 - 4 JAN 2013

Elliot was born on 8 April 1978 in Park Hospital, Daveyhulme within sight of  Old Trafford home of his beloved team Manchester United  something he liked to point out to everyone. 

As a child he was surrounded by love and his two older sisters Kimberley and Bianca doted on him a fact he was always ready to exploit. 

At school he was always keen to learn and was highly intelligent (too clever for his own good sometimes lol).  In high school he was a member of the basketball team and excelled at it although his Dad was disappointed that when playing football he had two left feel. He also enjoyed playing rugby and cricket.

 

Whilst at sixth form college Elliot decided that he wanted a career as a lawyer and so applied to several universities to read law.  Having visited several universities all over the country he decided on Leeds Metropolitan University where he gained both his law degree (LLB) and  legal practice certificate.  His time at university brought into his life friends who became 'his other family' and these same friends carried his coffin during his funeral service together with giving eulogies that we his family will treasure forever.  He came home every weekend whilst in Leeds to work for Showsec with his Dad ( also to raid the freezer and get Mum to do his washing and ironing).  There are many memorable stories from his Showsec days but one that stands out is when he saw a young girl faint during a concert and waded into the crowd to scoop her up and carry her out just as M People who were on stage started to sing Look for the Hero Inside Yourself and a spotlight went on Elliot and the crowd went wild.

 

After university he moved to London to pursue his law career and whilst there met his wife Angela (they married 2006).  He loved the cut and thrust of  living and working in London and made a success of his life there.  Before his death he was Operations Manager at Doctors Chambers in Windsor and was due to be offered a promotion they have named the board room after Elliot and have set up a trust fund for his daughter Georgina together with naming a charity football cup after him.

 

In 2012 Elliot and Angela decided the time was right to start a family and on January 1st 2013 their daughter Georgina was born, Elliot was so excited when he rang to tell us he was a Daddy and he doted on her unfortunately only for three days because whilst holding Georgina and waiting for Angela to be discharged from the hospital he died on the maternity ward  age just 34 the cause of his death (SAD) due to cardiomyopathy.  The staff at the hospital worked on him for over an hour but were unable to revive him.

 

His funeral was attended by over 300 people and we realised then just how many lives he had touched.

 

Elliot was a person who touched the lives of everyone he met he was loyal, hard working, would help anybody and never asked for anything in return.  He was modest, quick witted, clever and could light up a room.  His bear hugs were legendary as was his ability to laugh until he cried.  His passion was his beloved Manchester  United.  He was competitive and one of his friends told us in his eulogy that Elliot told him that when commuting to and from work he would without them knowing try to beat other commuters down the station platform.  He loved music, comedy, reading, electronic gadgets (was a bit of a geek), socialising, football, playing with his niece and nephews, his family and friends and life in general.  He could always find the funny side in anything and had a childlike love of birthdays and christmas. 

 

There are a million wonderful memories of our life with Elliot and we hope that this overview gives you a little snapshot of  the amazing person our son was although we would hate you to think he was a saint because he had his faults like the rest of us but we would not have missed one second of the time we had with him just wish it had been a lot more years.