Paul Lee-Davis
Paul grew up and went to school in Norton Canes, Staffordshire, and remained emotionally attached to the village all his life.
He was 37 years old, loved by his family, friends and fiancée for his humour and sparkle.
It is appropriate that his first words were ‘car car’ – because Paul loved speed and all things fast.
As a child he raced BMX bikes on numerous tracks, earning many medals and trophies. He also owned a motocross bike and rally car in his teens and twenties – showing great skill and potential.
He raced go-karts as a boy – and over the last few years rediscovered his love for racing by driving professional karts. Karting was one of his greatest passions and it earned him places on the podium with Club 100.
Paul also spent many happy times racing his Honda Civic Type R at such tracks as Silverstone, Donnington, Santa Pod – and at the Nurburg Ring in Germany with his friends.
Paul loved life. He loved his music – in particular playing his guitars – especially his Gibson SG which he called ‘cherry red’.
He was proud of the work he accomplished as a high rise glazier, then later as a skilled kitchen fitter for the company Crown Kitchens.
Paul loved holidays. He travelled to America several times (loving New York and California). He also visited Hong Kong, Australia, St Lucia, Turkey, Germany, Prague, Venice, Belgium and Rome – to name a few. Paul also had travelled throughout many parts of England.
Paul made every moment of his life count - and treasured times spent with his family, fiancée and many friends.
Paul was son to Jan and Brian, brother to Kevin and stepson to Alex- and loved by them all very much.
Paul's dad Brian remembers his son with pride. Brian loved nothing more than to follow Paul's adventures and achievements at various race tracks. He was inspired to put his love for him into the words of the following poem:
MY SON
So funny, vibrant - alive all the while
With twinkling eyes and a cheeky smile.
Hands trembling with adrenaline after a race -
“I’m all pumped up,” he’d tell me – with a happy face.
So excited, he’d struggle to get out of the kart.
“I love it!” he’d say – from the bottom of his heart.
And there’s poor Stacy by the way –
Covered in oil – getting stuck in on race day.
In a mess,
Doing her best.
“She loves me,” is all Paul would say.
We know she wouldn’t have had it any other way.
He was a fine young man to us all
But to me
Will always be
My child, my first born,
My Paul.
Paul was very close to his mum Janet who says of her precious son:
"If it was possible to choose what kind of son I could have, I would have asked for someone who grew up to be honest, kind, decent, clever and hard-working, with a good sense of humour.
Added bonuses would be a son who had a spirit of adventure, could play rock guitar – and was good-looking.
Paul was all of those things – and more – including being impulsive and full of mischief.
As an adult Paul was always in a hurry. He literally raced through life. He would come into my house like a whirlwind – shouting hello – then dashing off on some escapade – usually leaving me with something to sort out – and usually forgetting his car keys, phone or wallet.
Paul was delightfully silly, happiest when laughing and joking with friends and family at one of our many parties, meals out or at a go-kart track.
We spent many happy hours together plotting mischief, giggling and sharing our exasperation with things - usually from underneath our snuggly blankets on the sofa.
I am so glad that I always told Paul how much I loved him. I often told him he looked handsome – not that he needed to be told – because more often than not Paul would tell me how gorgeous he looked.
Yet he wasn’t self-absorbed. He always thought of others.
Paul accepted people for what they were and was always willing to help someone in need - sometimes with little thought of his own safety - even if that meant jumping on a plane to America at a moment's notice.............which he did......''
Paul was very fond of and also close to Kevin his younger brother, and they shared lots of fun times together both growing up as children and later as young men.
Kevin recalls Paul always being ''the practical one'' of the two of when they were younger. 
"He never minded getting his hands dirty and always liked getting stuck into everything. I was pretty useless. I couldn’t even fix a puncture on my bike. Paul had to do it for me.
Paul was good on a motorbike. I was useless. Paul was good on a go-kart. I was useless. Paul would go over big jumps. I would fall off. Anything that involved an engine – Paul would come first. I would come last.
BUT, I was good at football, tennis, golf – the sports that Paul used to say were for little girls – because there was no speed or danger involved."
Kevin remembers Paul buying his first 50cc road bike when he was 16. He would be forever tinkering with it, trying to make it go faster and look better than it really should and racing it with speed and excitement.
Kevin thinks of Paul as ''funny, cheeky, generous, happy, thoughtful, talented, honest, energetic, popular – and such a really positive person. Even throughout his illness, Paul displayed all of these attributes and more. If people had just some of Paul’s attributes, the world would be a happier place''.
Kevin enjoyed Thusday nights visiting and staying at Paul and Stacy's where:
"Stacy would be in the kitchen cooking her lovely home-cooked food - just the way Paul liked it. Paul would be in the living room, TV off, playing his guitar (which he loved to do) - and singing at the top of his voice.
Paul had no regrets in life – and remarkably achieved everything that he wanted to do. He even managed to fit in one more thing: getting engaged to his wonderful girlfriend Stacy just days before he passed''.
Kevin states he couldn’t have ever wished for a more wonderful, caring brother – and a truly great uncle to his 2 children Tom and Grace.
Paul was also fiance to Stacy who he met in 2006.
They had been together five years and states her time with Paul was 'utterly fantastic and Paul will always be my world'.
Despite the difficult 18 months that Paul went through during his illness, still the love they shared shone through and he remained 'an absolute pleasure' - and was as cheeky as ever. Paul never complained and faced every hurdle with dignity and strength and thought of others every step of the way.
Paul was honest and most generous and was always true to himself and his belief's. Paul had the most charismatic personality and was never found without a smile on his face and a cheeky twinkle in his eye. Paul had hundreds of friends and loved by them all for his sense of humour and fun. He was also a hard working man with a wonderful work ethic.
Stacy states ''We were both so desperately sad that we wouldn't get the chance to spend many more years together, as we both so wanted, but we did so much in the five years we were together: holidays, music festivals, parties...........and of course the second love of Paul's life (or his first!) karting."
''We travelled the length and breadth of the country - even abroad to Spa - to chase his passion for karting. It was a privilege to share those times, his enthusiasm and excitement for something that he loved.I can honestly say there has not been a moment in our five years together that I have not felt truly loved and appreciated - and I will always treasure my engagement ring.......although it took him five years (everything was always in Paul's own time). So Paul was right as he always told me - I am a lucky girl.
There is not a minute during my life that I will not remember him and take him with me. I thank Paul for the love he gave me and for believing in me and making me a better person. He will always be my inspiration and I will love him to the moon and back always."
We know as a family that Paul will always be beside us, willing and wishing the best for each and every one of us. He would be so proud of this fund - as it was his intention, when he became well, to be a volunteer on the haematology unit to share his experiences and support others and to give back in some way.
Paul said he couldn't believe that he never thought of giving blood or becoming an organ donor before he became ill. It is only when faced with such circumstances that we all fully appreciated first hand what this selfless act of strangers truly means.
If just one person reading this feels inspired to give blood or contribute in some way, what a fitting tribute that would be to Paul - and to all the other individuals going through similar experiences.
Inspired by Paul, Stacy has now become a blood/platelet donor and has her details on the bone marrow register.
Paul wanted to give back in some way, so the fund will honour Paul and his wish to help and support others.
Paul you are truly loved and missed by us all.