The sad but inevitable death of Thomas Williams

Ladies and gentlemen, friends of Tom Williams,

It is lovely to be with you here in St Cedric’s to commemorate the life of Tom Williams; a life which has touched so many of us here today.

Tom was, I think you’ll agree, universally admired and liked. He was hard working, a loving father and dedicated husband. He gave generously to his community and served as an example to many.

In his job with Ginatrix Software, Tom was an innovator; a great programmer and visionary manager. It was through his vision that Ginatrix grew from a small firm of 4 people to the success it is today. Tom was admired by his staff, firm but fair and always kept his people motivated, focussed and doing rewarding work.

Outside Ginatrix, Tom was known for his work with the local BMX clubs. Seeing them as a way to give young people something to do and an outlet for their energy and need for adrenalin and risk taking, Tom gave generously of his time and money; building and maintaining facilities, organising events and getting local sponsors on board to provide bikes and equipment for kids from families that couldn’t afford them.

At home, Tom was a model father to Jake, Emma and Matthew. Although he loved his work, he was always home in time for dinner and bath. As the kids grew, they knew that dad would be there every night to help with homework, hear their readers and build the latest Lego creation.

In all, Tom was the man many of us aspire to be.

It therefore came as no surprise when Julie, his wife of 10 years, stabbed him violently to death one night at a local restaurant.

In her subsequent statement to the police, Julie was distraught, and I quote:

“I couldn’t put up with it anymore. He was perfect. How can anyone be married to a perfect man? How could I get one up on him? At coffee, the other girls would be bitching about their lazy, scruffy husbands. I couldn’t join in. Tom had always just finished mowing the lawn or fixing the roof or something. They would giggle and buy sex toys to make up for their man’s tiny member or lack of skill. Tom was hung like a rogue elephant and had the hands of a harpist. I’m an adult, for heaven’s sake! If I didn’t have something to complain about, I couldn’t have an adult conversation.

Good with the kids, admired in the community, handy around the home. There were no levers, no weaknesses, no little cracks into which I could insert the crowbar of feminine manipulation. He didn’t even drink that much for God’s sake!

The dinner was the final straw. It was our anniversary and he’d remembered. It was the restaurant that we had our first date at, even the same table. He’d had a horse drawn carriage pick us up, gave me a ring and listened attentively, smiled and played with my hand under the table while we chatted. I couldn’t take any more of it. I just took the steak knife and [breaks down into sobs].”

The life of Tom Williams was one well lived but ultimately one where his fatal character flaw led to the tragedy of his death. I hope his fate will not be forgotten and the lessons of his life passed on to men of the future.

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