My loving, kind, caring big brother Lee Whitley died in King’s College Hospital London after a sudden illness on 30th August 2022.  

Lee was full of life, he loved sport specifically football (Man United) and GAA (Fermanagh).  He was brilliant at art, he would sit for days sometimes weeks working at a painting or a sketch, and he loved music, but Lee loved people.  

He worked as a careers and education advisor to young people leaving care and was so proud of this work and the young people he had under his care, he had just marked 19 years in this role.  

Lee had lived away from home from the age of 18 despite a brief spell at home after university, but he adored London and all it had to offer.  Even though Lee lived away for so long we still felt him at home because he was constantly in contact.  Lee would often send a voice note enthusiastically telling you to watch something or you’d get a picture of what he was making for dinner that evening. It wouldn’t be unusual for him to call at 7am on a Saturday or Sunday for a chat with dad to put the world to rights.

When Lee passed away we were left not knowing how to bring him home to us.  We stood outside King’s College Hospital in a strange city not knowing where to turn to.  Emer our sister recalled an interview that Colin Bell had given after setting up the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust after the tragic loss of his son.  In stepped Colin and made one of worst possible days of our life that little bit easier.  He reassured us that Lee would be brought home to us and we were not to worry.  

This Just Giving page is to assist the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust to be able to do the same for so many other families who will sadly find themselves in the same position.  In Lee’s memory we want to help bring other loved ones home and make that horrific day a little easier.