In loving memory of James de Groot who sadly passed away on 28th January.
Details of the funeral are provided below, along with personal tributes.
FUNERAL SERVICE
The funeral service will be held at 11am on Tuesday 2nd March at Clandon Wood Natural Burial Ground.
As capacity is limited, attendance is by invitation only, however the service will be webcast live and details of how to access this are provided below, along with directions for those who are attending in person.
WATCH THE LIVE WEBCAST ON THE DAY
The live webcast will begin at 11am on Tuesday 2nd March. Watch it directly via this YouTube link.
HOW TO GET THERE IF ATTENDING
Address:
Clandon Wood Natural Burial Ground
Epsom Road
West Clandon
Guildford
Surrey
GU4 7FN
Directions:
Clandon Wood is within easy reach of the A3 and M25. Clandon station is a 25 minute walk and Guildford station is a short taxi ride away.
From the A3 coming from London: take the Burpham/Merrow exit, then turn left into New Inn Lane just after the BP petrol station signposted towards Merrow, then turn right onto Park Lane B2234 and then turn left onto the Epsom Road A25 signposted towards Dorking and Leatherhead. The entrance to Clandon Wood Nature Reserve and Burial Ground will be on the left hand side after one mile, signposted Clandon Wood Natural Burial (do not take the earlier Clandon Park turnoff).
DONATIONS
Family flowers only. In lieu of floral tributes we invite you to donate to our fundraising for stroke research at the UCL Institute of Neurology.
Thank you
TRIBUTES
When we were young, time was everything.
“Just one more game!”
“Do we have to leave now?”
Time spent with you was always fun.
I was older, taller, but always looked up to you,
Every idea you had sounded like the best one.
Countless hours with controller in hand;
You are the reason for the hobby which became my career.
Stick-sword fighting, snowboarding, learning to backflip at the beach;
My sense of adventure was built with you.
When we went to university, we still had the summer to catch up;
It was always like we’d never been apart.
The last time I saw you I was nervous.
Life had been in the way, would it still be the same?
We were different people, yes, but deep down nothing had changed.
We talked about Japan; I never loaned you my textbook.
The pandemic hit and we never saw each other again.
I never told you about my new job.
“I’m going to work for Playstation!”
…
“I know, thanks! I am really excited”
I wish we had more time.
I always assumed there would be more time.
Whatever my future may bring,
I will make time for you,
I will think of you,
I will cherish the time we had.
My oldest friend.
Matthew Hodgson
Like many others, I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear of Jamie’s sudden passing. I have known Jamie for over 10 years through my brother, Chris de Kauwe, as we all went to Bristol University. I think the most striking thing about Jamie, was that he had a good heart. He was very kind and friendly, and always willing to recognise and encourage other people. This came through from the very start, when I first knew him and Chris’ other uni friends, with all of their riotous antics in their first year, right through to the professional young man that he had become. The last conversation I had with Jamie was last summer, when he told me that I should feel very good about being able to run 4km, and that I shouldn’t be self-deprecating about that. I thought at the time, that this was very considerate and kind, given that Jamie was a very good runner, and had done a marathon. I will miss Jamie, but I feel very lucky to have known him. I am sure that all those who knew him, and of course particularly those who were closest to him: his family, girlfriend Lucy and his closest friends, including my brother Chris, will carry Jamie with them in their hearts always. For myself, I will continue to keep Jamie in my prayers, and I shall always remember him very fondly.
Katie de Kauwe
As an old friend of Jamie’s Mum Kate, I have many happy memories of Jamie on visits to Kate when he and Emily were younger, playing table tennis, snooker and splashing about in the pool.
One memory stands out in particular though. I had taken my 6 year old nephew Chris down for the day in the school holidays. Jamie was 11, and spent the whole day with Chris, playing tennis with him, giving him all his Pokémon cards and looking after him in the pool because he really wasn’t sure if the inflatable killer whale ‘Stavros’ was real or not.
You made his day Jamie and for quite a few years after you were idolised from afar.
I have no doubt that the kindness you showed him that day stayed with him and was shown to all who encountered you. God Bless you