Tributes left to murdered Brighton woman (From The Argus)

Tributes left to murdered Brighton woman

2:10pm Monday 19th October 2009 in

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Friends and family of Brighton murder victim Andrea Waddell have flocked to The Argus website to pay tribute to her.

Ms Waddell was found on Friday in her burnt flat in Upper Lewes Road, Brighton.

Since then, those who knew and loved her best have left messages of condolence on the site.

Bloomaxx, from brighton, wrote: "As someone who lived above Andrea, all I can say is she was a pleasant, affable young woman who would always make the effort to talk to you. My thoughts go to her family at this time."

Lynn, from Brighton, wrote: "I knew Andrea from City College two years ago and she was a lovely person. We are all shocked and upset over this sad end to a truly sensitive and loving person."

Peter Quinn, from Brighton, wrote: "I knew Andrea for a few years. As others have attested, she was a very special and loving person." Georgy Edgson said: "Andrea was my friend and former next door neighbour who showed us nothing but kindness and consideration.

"I am absolutely devastated by this news and my thoughts and love go out to her wonderful family, who I had the privilege to meet on several occasions.

"Andrea lived her life with dignity and grace and this was an appalling end for her. Bless you Andrea for having been my friend."

Meanwhile, Andrea's parents Sonia and Robin and brother Nick have released an extended statement.

It reads: "Our dear Andrea had been through so much in her life.

"Our child started life as Alexander John and went to Reading School, where he achieved 11 Grade A GCSEs and 4 A levels.

"At the age of 14 Alex had been diagnosed with Scoliosis (severe sideways curvature of the spine), and at 17, in a six hour operation, his spine was fused and metal rods inserted.

"Following this he developed the permanent condition of Fibromyalgia, which is a syndrome of problems including painful muscles, abdominal problems, sleeplessness and depression.

"At the same time (unbeknown to his family) Alex bravely took his future into his own hands and went to see a psychiatrist concerning his ambivalent gender feelings.

"He eventually started receiving hormone treatment in preparation for a gender change.

"This was all taking place during Alex’s three years at the University of Durham where he was studying Philosophy, by the end of which time the sober-suited young man had become an attractive young woman called Andrea Joanna.

"Andrea then started studying for an MA in Social and Political Thought at the University of Sussex – all the while suffering severely from Fibromyalgia, the constant muscle pain meaning that it was impossible for her to carry shopping or books, stay for long in any one position, or even brush her hair or hold a telephone to her ear.

"The University was amazingly supportive, especially as during this time Andrea was in and out of hospital.

"She developed Acute Ulcerative Colitis, which was nearly fatal, but she was saved by having her colon removed resulting in an Ileostomy.

"A year later she was able to have this reversed, necessitating two further serious operations; and during this same year she was finally permitted to have her gender change operation, following which she not only looked like a young woman, and felt like one, to all intents and purposes she was one.

"Andrea then decided to study massage and aromatherapy at the Brighton & Hove City College. Fibromyalgia is a strange condition, different for everyone who suffers it, and although the muscular pain in Andrea’s case restricted her severely it allowed her to do massages which everyone on the receiving end found amazingly beneficial.

"Later on she went out to Thailand on two occasions, for several weeks at a time, to study all the Thai massage techniques.

"However, Andrea was often incapacitated by pain and unable to work, and we know she was concerned about how to make a living and be independent.

"If her decision on how to achieve this took her down unusual paths, who are we to judge?"

Leave your tribute to Andrea below, email news@theargus.co.uk or call 01273 544520.

This story has replaced earlier versions as a place for people to leave their memories of Andrea. There, we ask you to please note this site is for people who want to pay tribute - The Argus will not tolerate anyone abusing this facility.