Alexander was a wonderful, bright and funny boy who developed into an equally wonderful and intelligent young man. He always had a passion, be it interests such as football and wrestling, or for achieving the highest academic results he could. He worked tirelessly for his grades and put so much pressure on himself. He was a perfectionist who would not allow anything other than 100% in everything he did. This amount of self-inflicted pressure would be too much for anyone!

Alex had a real love for Pokémon and, whilst at University, was a co-founder of Lancaster University Pokémon Society. The society was voted ‘best new’ in its first year and I am so happy to see that it has maintained its popularity with students and continues to grow.

I am eternally grateful to the University for their decision to award Alex his much worked for Psychology degree even though he never got to complete it. A private graduation ceremony was held for him at which his family and friends gathered to remember and honour him. That degree sits proudly in his room. We donated an inscribed trophy to the Pokémon society and I am so proud to see that each year the students hold an ‘Alex Woodley Memorial Contest’ with the winner receiving the cup.

Alexander was, and remains, my much-loved son. He took a very large piece of my heart with him when he left. I will never stop grieving for him, the future he could have had, and the people he could have met and loved.

He couldn’t see how loved and important he was to so many people.

I miss you Alexander Matthew Woodley x

“We cannot, after all, judge a biography by its length, by the number of pages in it; we must judge by the richness of the contents...Sometimes the 'unfinisheds' are among the most beautiful symphonies.”

Viktor E. Frankl