Heartbreaking for Lou’s loved ones and such a loss for the Driving Instructor Industry. RIP. may you soar on angels wings….
Heartbroken for everyone’s lives you touched – I have no idea how must have made a day last a week.
When I 1st met Lou 10 years ago when she had this brilliant idea to do the BLR to raise money for Children in Need, I knew then she was a wonderful caring lady. Over the next few years we met, Lou always greeted me with her big smile and open arms for a hug. We not only met on the BLR but at her standards check courses.
Lou rang me last year after my major surgery checking up on me to make sure I was ok which was very much appreciated and this showed her caring nature.
Lou was a gentle, kind, considerate, funny, beautiful lady. You are going to be so missed. You were simply the best…. ❤️💔❤️ x
Dear Lou,
I have always been a big believer that everyone is placed on our planet at the right time for the right reason. Lou, yours was to love, inspire, motivate, teach, listen, help, smile and hug. I also unfortunately believe that extra special people like yourself are also taken way too soon leaving the biggest hole in every person’s life you touched. You will be missed, but still loved and you will still inspire. Your words of wisdom are in my car every single lesson and for that I thank you. Your hugs are still felt and your smile seen, fly high pretty lady and we all know your are watching over us. Xxxxxx
(P.S. fire up a sparkler for me, each year I will for you)
Whilst a PDI I watched endless videos of Lou and Blaine. I can honestly say it was thoroughly enjoyable and undoubtedly helped me nail my Part 3. I almost felt like I knew both personally. I never pass up an opportunity to recommend your channel.
I was so shocked to hear about Lou’s passing, why do all the truly lovely people go too soon.
I hope you all find some comfort in knowing that Lou’s legacy lives on and there are certainly thousands of drivers on the road who approach a roundabout thinking of pizza.
Her tinkly laugh and warm, radiant smile is something I will remember.
Good night and God bless lovely lady xx
The first time I met Lou, I sat at her feet. The second time I managed to stay in my chair. On both occasions this was at training sessions and I learnt so much on these days. Watching videos, falling asleep to part 3 fail reviews and using the Go Green training package, finally enabled me to get that green badge.
Thank you for all that you did. My pupils are looking for polly, peeping n creeping and listening for the hum of the car.
Handbrake on, take it out of gear and rest your feet. Your work is done.
Blaine, children, extended family and friends. Take each moment for what it is in the coming days, months and year. Cry when you need too, laugh and look out for each other. Remember the good times, hear her voice and say her name. You’ve got this.
Lou Walsh. Generous, beautiful, talented, gracious and loving. You are missed
I only met Lou last year for the first time but she made a big impression on me. You couldn’t help but notice her, she was so full of life. She will be very sadly missed
I started in Lou’s PDI group in January 2018. What an eye opener it was to be able to watch her videos with Blaine and have the support of a group that were not judgemental but supportive. I went to one of Lou’s workshops and it was a godsend. Lou also recommended my final trainer for me and it was through all the tools that I found that helped me to qualify.
I am so shocked and stunned that she is no longer with us and I can’t comprehend what Blaine, her children and family are going through. But she always had a smile on her face and was an absolute inspiration to the driving instructor industry and her rescue training to help as many people as she could and ensure high standards. So many skills I learnt from Lou who unselfishly would sit in the car with Blaine and record another nugget of gold. I will miss her videos and that beautiful relationship she had with Blaine. My heart goes out to Blaine and the family but for her short life she did so much good. What a legacy to leave her children, to know how loved she was and what an inspiration she was to so many. A true loss for humanity 💔
The driving instructor/coaching/training industry will certainly miss such a lovely talented lady. With her husband Blaine, they were certainly one of the top driving training partnerships in Britain.
I had the honour of having Lou accompany me on one leg of the BLR from Weybridge to Windsor a few years ago. She arrived from one group to join my group, buzzing with enthusiasm, happiness and encouragement for my pupil and myself. Forever grateful for us taking the time to join the Relay. Think it was after 10pm by the time we arrived in a dark unlit car park somewhere in Windsor! She’d already been out on the road for many days. No stopping Lou! So had so much energy!
I also attended one of her one day courses in The Midlands. A first class course, written and presented superbly by Lou. I learnt a lot that day.
Finally, I just need to acknowledge all Lou’s hard work for raising so many thousands of pounds over so many years for such a worthy charity. Her generosity, beautiful smile and enthusiasm will be sorely missed.
Condolences to her husband Blaine, her children, family and friends. It must be such a difficult time for you all. RIP Lou x
I only met Lou once during an SDIA /ADI drivers meeting where she was the speaker. Lou was a
very positive, likeable & professionally supportive character within our profession. I’m sad we
won’t meet again. You will be missed by
everyone❣️
RIP Dear Lou x
Thoughts are with your family 🙏🏼
Kindest regards,
Lisa Downie
(@ DriveHart)
Lou, not many times in my life have has my path crossed with someone whom I just clicked with. A kindred spirit some may say.
Mathew met you first last year and he said to me ‘oh my Pip, Louise is so you’re type of friend, you’ll love her.. make sure you’re back in August to meet her!
I literally booked my flight back to Spain that night. A stranger who welcomed me into her villa among your family fed and wined us and treated Mathew and I like friends years old
I had so much to tell you, i so much I wanted to hear you tell me the latest news with Button Moon. How the kids and Blaine are doing. I was really looking forward to October when you were back out here when time was on our side and cocktails were readily available to have a craic over!
I lost my Cala D’or buddy. I’m heartbroken. Genuainely heartbroken!
Thank you Louise, thank you for being the beautiful soul you were.
I miss you xx
Dear dear Lou. My goodness what an impact you had on so many people. From your closest family and friends, to the people (like me) who met you a few times and were involved in the BLR, to the people who have never met you, but still know you. Your loss is felt by each and every one of us no matter how we knew you. I wonder if you knew how much you meant to us all. How much you inspired us. How much your words are in our every day teaching. I will forever be grateful that I took a couple of your workshops and got to know you on the BLR journey and was lucky enough to have you join me in the back of my car when I was lead car from Castle Donnington to Bardon in 2018. You treated each and every one of us…. No matter how many cars you’d sat in or how many people you spoke to… as if we were the first person you’d spoken to that day. Your influence, passion and energy transferred to us and it was you who made the BLR so special- although I know you would say it was us…. But it was you Lou. You made it what it was. This world does not work properly without you in it. The ADI world does not work properly without you in it. The BLR will never work without you in it. But your legacy will live through all of us. What a special gal you were. You will always be in my heart (and in my car as my BLR memory bear is now called Lou 💕) And my lessons will always include pizza crusts and dogs on leashes. Thank you so much to Blaine and your family for sharing you with us