JONNY PITMAN Memoriam

I only met you a few times on the mat at the very beginning of my Jiu-Jitsu journey. But in those few months your abundance of kindness and giving to this beginner will always be remembered. Know that every time someone new steps onto the mat I remember how kind and welcoming you were to me and do my best to welcome them as I know you would do. To your family, you are so right to be so proud of your son. He truly is a good, kind and giving man. He is often spoke of fondly bringing a smile and sometimes a laugh to the guys. I know that if in just a few short months he had such a great impact on me, others who had the privilege of knowing him longer will be that much more blessed by that unforgettable smile (or cheeky grin), and kindness. I cannot speak of the pain of losing a child, just the thought of it is unbearable to this father. Though having lost an older teenage brother and witnessing the seemingly unending pain and tears of a mother, and a father who tried to be strong for the rest of us, but could not always hide the tracks of his unseen tears, I can say that although it seems so unfathomable, time will ease the pain. Tears will continue to fall in those moments when his presence is dearly missed and you would do anything to feel him close just once more. For me I know that time will come when I will see my brother again. We will hug, we will laugh. I will kick him in the backside and say "what the hell were you thinking!" And then we will hug and laugh again. But for now I will remember that because I know how much my brother loved us he would never wish for us to feel such deep pain. But instead, to be happy, if only so he can be happy and at peace. Of course he could have thought of that beforehand. But hey, he's him. And so we love him, wanna shake him, but love him. Finally, to Jonnys Mum and Dad, thank you for bringing such a great man into our lives. Bless you all.

The year has gone by so fast. Still think of you and your smile. Thinking of your Mum, Dad and Matty