Today marks 4 years since we lost our friend and our brother, Jacob. Abbie, Jacob's sister, has written a few words to mark the day, and what it means for those close to Jacob.
This time of year is always tough for a number of people, myself included. Anyone who knew Jacob always feels the absence of him, but it feels all the more apparent as we approach the fourth year without him. Particularly with recent events, it’s easy to get lost in the sadness of it all and to get swept up in a whirlwind of negative emotion. But Jacob was not a negative person - I think he was as far from that definition as it’s possible to get.
It took me a long while to write this, to think about what to say about Jacob when I could write entire novels. At a recent JBT workshop, we were talking about ‘our voice’ and what exactly that means to us. Everyone had their own definition, and it was so inspiring to hear how everyone talked about themselves and their voice, especially how, despite the challenges they face, they find the confidence to express it. It got me thinking about my own voice and how much Jacob influences that, without me even knowing. He influences a lot of my writing, and I often think about how I can best honour his memory when I do write. I think the same is true for all the trustees. Jacob made such a huge impact on all of us, and we all carry him with us every second of every day. In everything we do, we’re always thinking of him.
I like to think that the combined voices of all the trustees at JBT is what makes us so special. We each bring our own experiences and memories of Jacob, and use that to create something truly wonderful. Jacob was an avid musician, and a creative person at heart. Through our work with the charity, we’re keeping his voice alive; his passion for all things musical, his kindness and his spirit for trying new and exciting things. While he may no longer be physically with us, whenever I attend one of our charity events, our S&S evenings, or even just our monthly trustee meetings, I see and hear him everywhere. His spirit and passion radiate through everything we do, and I think he’d be really proud to see everything we’ve done in his name.
Jacob is someone who can never be replaced, and his loss has left a hole in all of our lives, even four years on. And while there are days that are harder than others, it’s important to remember that there will always be good in the world. I like to think that the work we do at JBT fosters that good; providing creative opportunities for young people is vital, and the work we do towards that is so important. We want to focus on the good in our community, and spread Jacob’s voice as far as we can possibly reach. He made an impact on all of us, and I think it’s only right that we keep making that impact on as many people as possible.
Four years is a long time for anyone to be gone, and the sad reality is that number is only going to keep increasing. But Jacob is never far from our hearts, and we will always work to keep his memory and his legacy alive in the work we do, as well as in our everyday lives outside of the charity. He was an incredible person, who we all miss dearly.
You’ll never be forgotten, Jacob. We miss you.
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