Leeds City Council employees have been paying tribute after the tragic death of their colleague aged just 24.
William Meldrum passed away on Thursday, April 14 and was a dear colleague to all, always smiling and making people's days brighter.
Will, from Wakefield, worked on the IT helpdesk at Leeds City Council. The reason for his death is unknown at this time and family and friends have set up a Gofundme page to raise money for West Yorkshire homeless charity Simon on The Streets.
Will's manager and friend Michal Kokot spoke to LeedsLive to share his tribute to a kind and loving individual. He said: “He was very open and very helpful to everybody, speaking to Will’s parents, he was very helpful to everyone at the gym”
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“He was the biggest critic of himself, he always wanted to be better and do better but to everybody around him, he was a fun person and liked to joke about things and that’s how we have been remembering him.”
Will lived a routine around exercise, spending lots of time at the gym and always trying to help other people when he was there. He was liked by all and always strove to put a smile on people's faces - when he passed away it came as a shock.
“It was a shock, I think everyone was shocked when we found out, it definitely touched the whole team. Everybody from across different teams has been getting in touch to say how shocked they are, he was very likeable," Michal said.
Will was not only passionate about his health and exercise but also about the growing issue of homelessness in the city. Michal told of a story once when Will was walking through Leeds with his parents and he stopped to give a homeless man some money.
Michal said: " His dad told us a very personal story of when Will disappeared whilst walking through Leeds to chat to a homeless man, and he sat with him and gave him some money.” Will's parents were initially concerned about him giving money to someone on the streets Will spoke to them to try and change their minds.
"Will gave his parents a lecture on not knowing what they struggle with, and now, Will’s parents now don’t walk past a homeless person without helping them," Michal said.
The fundraiser is trying to raise £500 for the charity and in just a couple of days, it has already raised over £200. Michal says he is so grateful to those who have sent in donations. He said: “I think Will would be proud of something like this.”
Will's gofundme page can be found here if people want to leave a donation or message for Will's family and friends.
