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Post by Natasha on Dec 18, 2005 15:29:58 GMT
The news of Keith's death came as a complete shock to me. I think it was only Friday that we were all excited about his coming back, and then all of sudden, he's gone forever. To be honest, I've never really lost anyone who was very close to me before, so this is very, very hard for me. From his very first e-mail to me, Keith was someone who was a true friend. In Becky's song, "By Your Side" it starts with the lyrics, "I still remember, my endless questions... I was so young, but still you'd listen. I'd feel so special, and every answer from your lips, would make me strong," and that's exactly how it was with Keith. I was constantly asking him for help and advice and he never turned me down. He will never know how much his letters have meant to me... Its just so easy for me to get down and discouraged and just believing I can't sing and thinking I should just call it quits, and then there would be a letter from Keith, full of his usual encouragement and smiles. I've always felt so proud to have Keith as my friend, and so amazed that will all the things he was doing, he always found time to support little old me and Crystal. I've never felt I really deserved all his kindness, just in comparison to how amazing Hayley is for example, but Keith was one amazing guy. You know, he actually agreed to being called my Uncle? I've never got to know any of my real Uncles, but Keith was a real Uncle to me. My only regret is not being able to give me one of our 'hugs' in real life, but its good to know that Keith will never again suffer pain of any kind.. Keith is someone I'll never forget and who, although he's no longer with us, I'll always love... |
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Dave
Administrator
HWI Admin
Posts: 7,699
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Post by Dave on Dec 18, 2005 15:53:06 GMT
When I first came across the HWI website and joined this forum out of curiosity, some two years ago, I was immediately struck by Keith's infectious enthusiasm for all things 'Hayley' and it didn't take him long to 'hook' me, too... although I probably didn't need very much hooking! Keith was always looking for ways to spread the word and I soon came to realise he had been doing this in one form or another for years, ever since the early days of Hayley's first New Zealand successes and before then, he helped to promote other excellent up and coming singers too, as indeed he continued to do until the very end and several of them we hear from regularly in this very forum.
Before long I had met Keith at Hayley concerts and I was glad to be able help in small ways with some contributions to the website and forum. Soon, I was delighted to be able to count him among my friends and as time went on, the extent of his tireless efforts to support and promote the singers he knew, and whose music he loved, constantly surprised me; I never did find out where he got the energy from! Now that Keith has cruelly been taken from us it leaves a void that will be hard to fill - but I know we will try our best to do so; we owe him that.
My thoughts go out especially to Bill, and to Simon who has been a good friend to Keith and for a lot longer than I have known him; and to all who have known him better than I ever could.
Keith, you may now be with us only in spirit but your mission continues. Rest in Peace, my friend.
Dave
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Post by Oksana on Dec 18, 2005 17:48:56 GMT
I am deeply shocked and saddened by this news. Keith was a great man dedicated to the success of young artists. He has helped shape their careers and has left a lasting mark on their futures. I admire his courage, positivity, commitment, and friendliness. He has touched all our lives by just being here, and while I know HWI will never be the same without him, I am comforted to know that he is rejoicing in the kingdom which has been promised to wonderful people like him.
Keith, thank you for the love you have shown in every word you've typed in this forum. Your kindness and courage mean a lot to us. We will miss you but your memory will live on.
Rest in peace.
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Holger
Junior Member 
Posts: 60
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Post by Holger on Dec 18, 2005 18:24:03 GMT
Dear Keith,
I just received word of your sudden and unexpected departure by Taylor.
We met for the first time in Heaton Park of Manchester for the BBC Last Night of the Proms and I still remember what you said when Hayley's angelic voice was carried over to us through the treetops as she was rehearsing "Ave Maria":
"Aaah - l i s t e n !" Right away I could sense that here I had met a genuine fan of our beloved Kiwi. And how much you loved her. Hayley certainly realized this when she devoted a song to you in Liverpool. (I swear, had I been there I would have hugged her on the spot for doing so. It was such a sweet thing of her to do!)
You also introduced me to Taylor and her mum Susan, whom I liked the moment I saw them. Taylor has so much potential and I will carry on your heritage of supporting her over here in Germany.
Our Lord Jesus once said: "Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his (Jesus') voice and come out." (John 5:28, 29)
I will see you then, my friend!
Holger
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Post by Lothar on Dec 18, 2005 20:58:36 GMT
Dear friends of HWI,
With consternation and tears in my eyes I was reading the news today, that Keith died last Friday. I was surprised and shocked about this information, because I had the hope Keith would win his fight against his illness. Then I remember, I saw and met Keith last time in Liverpool at Hayley’s concert, so it was unmistakable this fight would be a hard one – and the result was unpredictable.
For me, Keith was the father of our HWI-family – the man who was the coordinator of all thinks (more in the background as in front). Every time Keith was very well informed, precisely, reliable und he was very helpful. I think he will leave a great gap.
Lothar
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Post by alien on Dec 18, 2005 23:57:09 GMT
Dear Keith, may you rest in peace. Thank you for everything and you'll be forever in our heart.
Allen
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Post by portia on Dec 19, 2005 1:38:50 GMT
Rest in peace.
Though we've had our differences, I still very much respect Keith. I'm glad that now he's sallying forth into, as fusilier mentioned in his post, into Chapter One of the Great Story, where "every chapter is better than the last."
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Post by 1littlegirl on Dec 19, 2005 2:09:33 GMT
I was very sad to see this terrible news. I really appreciate all the hard work Keith did in promoting Hayley. His work will continue to do good things. I am rejoicing that he is with the Lord now.
May you rest in peace with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Love,
Cathleen
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Susan
Junior Member
US correspondent who wants to hear Hayley duet with Josh Groban!
Posts: 60
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Post by Susan on Dec 19, 2005 2:29:18 GMT
I am very saddened by the news of Keith's passing. I never knew Keith as well as many of you did, and geography (i.e., the separation caused by a vast ocean between our countries) probably would have prevented our ever meeting, but still...
The little that I knew of him was of a person with a very generous heart, and an exceptionally kind soul. He welcomed me in a very friendly way when I first registered for this message board. Earlier this year, when through some computer snafu (some kind of updating at ProBoards), I suddenly found that I could no longer log-on successfully... it was Keith who went above-and-beyond what most forum administrators would do, in order to assist me with establishing a brand-new password, and in figuring out how to revalidate my registration.
His passion for excellent music and for outstanding artistry was certainly contagious. I have learned so much about Hayley, as well as about many other new vocalists, as a result of reading this website, and all of this would not have been possible had it not been for Keith's tireless devotion to maintaining the excellence of this site.
My heartfelt condolences go out to Keith's best friend, Bill. I am deeply sorry for your loss. May it bring you some degree of comfort to consider the words of a song which appears on the newest Katherine Jenkins album (I'm sure that Keith would heartily approve of these words):
DO NOT STAND AT MY GRAVE AND WEEP
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep,
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glint on snow.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there - I did not die.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain,
When you awake in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush,
Of quiet birds in circled flight,
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there - I did not die.
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simon
New Member 
Posts: 22
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Post by simon on Dec 19, 2005 9:55:10 GMT
Many, many people knew Keith through the internet. I was fortunate to spend time with him on a number of occasions. He always kept me laughing and he was unselfish. A couple of years ago we conspired together to give Simon a surprise birthday party at a restaurant in Simon’s home town. I found out later that Keith’s birthday was only a few days later but he never mentioned it. He truly had a heart to make people happy so I will remember him laughing and telling jokes and I will laugh myself remembering his jokes.
Gary
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Post by postscript on Dec 19, 2005 15:41:54 GMT
I don't think I am the last 'newbie' to make Keith's acquaintance but I have learned of three important chapter heads from this thread.
1. I have learned more about Keith in a day or two than would normally be learned in as many years.
2. That the initial personal summing up I made from the brief interactions I had with him were spot on.
3. As a result of his life it is apparent: that there are enough wiling and able people to continue what he started. He started two enterprises. One intentionally, the other as a consequence of the first.
i) He sought to provide a support group to help the emergence of a lovely young girl whose full potential has yet to be unfolded--I am aware of Keith's other activities but not the detail and without in anyway diminishing any other candidate, it was my personal response to Hayley that drew me into this web site.
ii) Through (i) he brought together a largely happy band of brothers and sisters with a common aim but also, simply because of who they are, people of a great similarity of spiritual values, despite coming from diverse countries, cultures and backgrounds who, were there not to be a Hayley, would doubtless still enjoy continuing that camerarderie.
But there is a Hayley and I am sure Keith knew full well (although he had no cause to think of it so soon) that what ever happened we would see the completed job through.
That completion will be when Hayley decides to end her career because family, her children, require her attention instead. But then, there will still be Sophie and perhaps Isaac to stand behind.
Keith's work continues because we want it to, not because we feel he placed an obligation on us to do so. He would not want that nor have intended that..
Peter
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Post by bunnykins on Dec 21, 2005 11:34:36 GMT
I am so shocked and saddened to hear of Keith's passing on! He was a lovely and kind man. He is in a better place now. May he rest in peace.
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Post by JOHN MCNEIL on Dec 21, 2005 22:05:33 GMT
I have lost a friend. A friend I never met, but who became a man I new was a friend.
I met him through Hayley's website. I had questions and he always answered them. One time as a present he sent me an autographed CD of PURE.
One time he asked for a DVD of a Canadian singer I asked him too listen to and I sent it.
I so want to meet Hayley or at least see her perform. I live on a small Island in the middle of Lake Michigan in the USA. I doubt I will ever see her. But thanks to Keith I got to meet her through his eyes.
Most of you have met Keith, I envy you.
Keith is in a far better place now. He will be missed.
There is nothing I can add that all of you haven't said.
God Bless you Keith, thanks for being a friend.
John McNeil
Beaver Island, MI USA
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Post by wim on Dec 22, 2005 10:16:54 GMT
I was very saddened to hear the sad passing away of Keith Sheel. Although I never met him he was always unfailingly polite and courteous to deal with and his enthusiasm for supporting Hayley is evident in this very website. It was Hayley herself who let me know the news and her message will be going up on her site soon. So long Keith, you will be much missed! Wim www.hayleywestenra.com |
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Post by crystalpaul on Dec 22, 2005 10:53:19 GMT
I only met Keith a few times but it was always a joy to attend a concert and see him there and feel the warmth of his personality. I was very touched by his kindness and friendship and feel much sadness at his passing. They say the measure of your life is not so much what you do or say but the impression you leave on those you leave behind and I can pay no higher tribute than that to Keith. To feel a loss from someone whom I met so briefly is a measure of a very special person.
I know you are in a beautiful place now Keith, and I am sure you will have a front row seat at every concert from now on....
With love and thanks for your kindness
Paul
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