Tributes to ‘kind and much-loved’ paramedic after his sudden death
DAD-OF-TWO TRAGICALLY TOOK HIS OWN LIFE
FRIENDS and family of “kind and caring” paramedic Jason Barr, who also worked as a Hull Street Angel, have paid tribute to him following his tragic death.
The father-of-two and former Yorkshire Ambulance Service community first responder, also known as Jay, died after taking his own life aged 30 on February 5.
Jay’s sister, Claire, has since launched a fundraiser in memory of her “much-loved” brother to help pay the funeral costs and support Jay’s wife and two young sons.
“On February 5, we lost much-loved one, Jay,” she said.
“A much-loved husband, father, son, brother, friend and so much more to everyone who had the pleasure to know him and be around him.
“He took his own life, fighting many battles in his mind while still a always putting on a happy face.
“We’ve heard of many amazing memories from his friends and it’s obvious that he was the joker of any group and always made those laugh who were in his presence.
“Speaking from my own experiences growing up with four brothers, there was never a dull day and we were such a close-knit group, we always had each other’s
backs and still do – we will forever be a group of five siblings.
“Mental health is no joke, and we can only hope to continue to spread awareness to stop other families potentially facing the pain and loss of a loved one from this. Please check in on those around you and who you love – no matter how happy they may seem.
“Please choose kindness, you never know what someone is going through. If you’re struggling, please reach out.
“Please feel free to leave memories of Jay and the times you shared.”
In just a few days, the gofundme page has reached more than £1,400. Anyone who wants to support the fundraiser can do so by visitinguk.gofundme.com/f/ support-funeral-expenses-for-jay
University friends of Jay, who knew him from his time as a student paramedic at the University of Hull, are also trying to raise money for his two young children and his wife.
Writing on behalf of Jay’s university friends, HUPS president Sam Barrington said: “We first met Jay Barr on our university course, where we were all taken aback by the kind and caring soul he was.
“Jay was our friend, one of us, an aspiring paramedic.
“Despite the challenges Jay faced, he always did his best to your good
strive to ensure his friends, but most importantly his family, were happy.
“We, Hull University Paramedic Society (HUPS), want to raise as much money as possible to contribute towards the two beautiful boys and his wife Jade, who he leaves behind.
“Alongside this Go Fund Me, Hull University Paramedic Society will be participating in ‘100 Miles in March’ in order to also raise money for Mind, the mental health charity.”
Anyone who would like more information on the HUPS fundraiser can visit them at @hups society on Instagram or Twitter, or via email at hulluniversity paramedicsociety@gmail.com
After less than 24 hours, the group had already managed to raise nearly £400.
To contribute to the fundraiser can donate, visit www.gofund me.com/f/giving-jay-the-bestpossible-send-off
FORMER party girl Anne Marie Williamson swapped drinking sessions for gym sessions and can now leg press the weight of two adult pandas.
Six years ago Williamson,
27, became single feeling “negative” and “unattractive” about her weight which reached almost 18st.
She would constantly binge alcohol, overeat, and avoid exercise which lead to her being obese. And when she wasn’t working or partying, she would sleep whenever she could.
She had a body mass index (BMI) of 42.2 - almost double of the NHS healthy range for someone who is 5ft 5in.
Anne Marie said she “couldn’t be bothered” at the time, but has now transformed her life and become a bodybuilder and personal trainer.
She said: “I didn’t realise it at the time, but I was such a negative person.
“I would sleep, go to work, and go out drinking at the weekend – any opportunity I got I would sleep.”
In 2015, Anne Marie got inspiration from bodybuilders she had seen on social media which prompted her to join a gym.
She swapped burgers, chips, and fatty cheese for lean foods including chicken, salad, vegetables, and even ditched her old friends.
And where once the most Anne Marie would lift would be a wine glass, she now deadlifts 150kg, (23st 6lb) and can leg press 300kg – over 47st – the weight of two adult pandas. She’s also now entered bodybuilding competitions.
She even reached the UK trained figure female bodybuilding class finals in Hull, before Covid stopped further events.
Anne Marie said: “As a teenager, I was going out drinking and getting into trouble and so went to the gym as an outlet.
“When I saw these amazing pictures of bodybuilders in my early twenties, I decided to go back.”
”I stopped hanging about with my old friends and going out partying all the time and made new friends at the gym.
“It made me realise mindset had been awful.”
Despite slimming down and feeling good about herself, Anne Marie wasn’t finished with her body journey.
She still wanted to look how the bodybuilders she saw on social media and in the gym looked like.
And so, Anne Marie decided to make her training more intense.
She said: “When I started learning about weight training, I just got addicted to it – it felt so good.
“I’d never seen big muscles before in person like that and when I researched female bodybuilders, I knew I really wanted to look like them - my trainer helped me do the exercises.”
Just one year after being 18st, Ann Marie, from Inverness, dropped 10st and began wearing size eight clothing. She also took part in her first bodybuilding competition in North Lanarkshire, Scotland – placing third in her class. that my
Now a size 12, after gaining 3st of solid muscle, she has ditched hairdressing to run her own personal training business within a Future Fitness gym in Glasgow, where she moved after finding love.
She said: “Now I’ve gained muscle I wear a size 12 as I have bigger legs, back and shoulders.”
She is now more likely to be found showing off her incredible muscles in a £450 Swarovski crystal-embellished bikini at a bodybuilding show.
Anne Marie is now using her training skills to give back and help other overweight and obese people to shape-up.
She said: “When I qualified, I wanted to work with either really obese people, people who really wanted to get into weight training or really skinny people who wanted to gain weight.
“I started with a woman who was too big to fit on some of the machines.”
The personal trainer has gone on to compete in Uk-wide competitions, and placed seventh in her class in the British finals in Hull in October, run by the Physical Culture Association (PCA) Bodybuilding Federation.
Anne Marie is delighted with the way she looks, despite occasionally getting negative comments about her personal training and competition photos on her Instagram.
She said: “I do get comments from people saying I look like a man.
“It doesn’t bother me because they’re usually from really skinny guys. I just think, ‘I could lift you!’