Remembering Neill Willemsen, who died in Australia aged 26

In fact, he loved Suffolk, and was looking forward to taking on the family farm at Trucketts Hall, Boxted. 

“Neill was so excited to come home,” said his younger sister, Marianne. “He was ready for the next chapter of his life.” 

Tragically, Neill died as a result of a fatal accident on April 24 in Sydney, Australia, aged 26.

“He lived life to the full,” she said. “He never carried one ounce of worry and knew how to live his life completely carefree”.  

Neill was looking forward to coming home from his travels and working on the family farm in Boxted. Image: Family of Neill Willemsen (Image: Family of Neill Willemsen)

In life, Marianne said that Neill was not just an inspiration to herself and her younger sister Emma, but to all his friends and family. 

Neill was born on October 19, 1996, the eldest child of Geert and Margaret Willemsen. Geert, from the Netherlands, and Margaret, from the Scottish borders, inspired Neill to spread his wings and see the world.

Neill’s younger sister Marianne arrived next, with Emma completing the family in 2003. They moved to Trucketts Hall the following year.

Marianne said that Neill loved the freedom of a childhood spent on the farm. 

“He loved to be outside. He had endless energy, and still did at 26,” she remembered. 

"As soon as he could, he was out helping on the farm in the summer corn carting, and then became the combine driver.” 

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Neill attended St Joseph’s Catholic Primary in Sudbury. He then went on to attend St Louis Middle School in Bury St Edmunds, and then Ipswich School. He then studied engineering and sports coaching at West Suffolk College before starting his degree in agriculture at Writtle University. 

Neill always wanted to be involved in farming. Following university, he went to work with livestock on a farm near Edinburgh for two years, before returning to Suffolk. 

Neill loved spending time with his parents and sisters. 

“He was very family orientated. He had lots of younger cousins who completely adored him,” said Marianne. Neill was the first grandchild for both his Dutch and Scottish grandparents, and was doted on by them. 

Neill loved being outdoors, exploring and working on his family farm. The family dog, Nelly, would often keep him company as he drove the combine. Image: Family of Neill Willemsen (Image: Family of Neill Willemsen)

Neill, Marianne and Emma, would often travel to the Netherlands in the summer holidays to see their family, and spent weeks cycling with their Dutch grandparents. They also often visited Scotland, too, and Neill had a special bond with his Grandpa.  

Marianne remembers taking many family holidays with her parents and siblings during the autumn when the farming work had quietened. They really enjoyed these weeks in the Mediterranean all together.

Sport was a huge part of Neill’s life. He was a very talented tennis player and loved playing football. He was a passionate Arsenal supporter and enjoyed many trips to the Emirates with his father, Geert, and his sister, Emma.

Last year, Neill embarked on his travels around the world. He spent four months on the South Island of New Zealand working on a dairy farm, before joining Marianne in Vietnam. 

They enjoyed travelling the country together, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh, where they stayed with family. “He loved exploring and going on adventures, and particularly enjoyed catfishing,” said Marianne.

Neill then continued to Australia where he was road tripping in a campervan and met lots of university friends along the way.

He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him. 

Marianne and Emma will be running the Great North Run for Headway, the brain injury charity, in memory of their dear brother Neill.

To read more tributes to those we have loved and lost in Suffolk, click here.