5 years ago, pre Covid, you and I sat in the sunshine outside a local hotel and enjoyed a relaxed lunch together discussing all manner of things. I first met you a few years earlier and right up until last week you were my ‘go to’ person for anything to do with training new instructors. With other local instructors and their learners we shared many relay legs and I was lucky enough to be asked to lead two, one of them last year, a memorable day when my learner drove through horrendous weather to get to Plymouth for an 8am start. As always we had a wonderful day. Your energy levels were truly amazing and you have inspired so many instructors and trainers over the years. We are all at a loss to know why you have been taken from us so prematurely but our loss pales into insignificance compared to that of your wonderful family to whom we all send our most sincere love and condolences.
I feel so lucky to have known you and to be able to call you a friend. There’s a new star shining brightly in the sky now.
Dear dear Lou. My goodness what an impact you had on so many people. From your closest family and friends, to the people (like me) who met you a few times and were involved in the BLR, to the people who have never met you, but still know you. Your loss is felt by each and every one of us no matter how we knew you. I wonder if you knew how much you meant to us all. How much you inspired us. How much your words are in our every day teaching. I will forever be grateful that I took a couple of your workshops and got to know you on the BLR journey and was lucky enough to have you join me in the back of my car when I was lead car from Castle Donnington to Bardon in 2018. You treated each and every one of us…. No matter how many cars you’d sat in or how many people you spoke to… as if we were the first person you’d spoken to that day. Your influence, passion and energy transferred to us and it was you who made the BLR so special- although I know you would say it was us…. But it was you Lou. You made it what it was. This world does not work properly without you in it. The ADI world does not work properly without you in it. The BLR will never work without you in it. But your legacy will live through all of us. What a special gal you were. You will always be in my heart (and in my car as my BLR memory bear is now called Lou 💕). And my lessons will always include pizza crusts and digs on leashes. Thank you to Blaine and your family for sharing you with us
The driving Instuctor industry has been hit hard by this devastating news.
Lou has done so much in our industry to help so so many PDI’s and ADI’s reach there potential and dreams, in becoming an ADI or passing their standards checks.
Also all the hard work she put into the the big learner relay and raised so much for children in need. Lou made such an amazing impact where ever she went.
I didn’t know Lou personally but when I was going through my training she help me no end with messages back and forth, if it wasn’t for this support I would have given up, when I was on my last attempt at part 3.
My thoughts are with all her loved ones. Fly high Lou, you will be sorely missed by many and never forgotten. 👼 🌈 😘
It’s been an absolute privilege to have known Lou and the be a part of the BLR. Lead car, Car Fest, Loo finder (last year at a country house!) BLR choir. Funniest moment as lead car in the darkness towards Spalding – risk of raising bridge: My learner, Jenny asked what would happen if it started to raise as we drove over it…………. Voice from the back seat: “Put your foot down”. Thank you Lou for giving me and countless others the most amazing memories, we shared some wonderful times. Rest in peace. X
Lou was a amazing lady who I did have the pleasure of meeting, we chatted when I was a pdi ,I attended one of her workshops and when my local test centre closed she gave up a whole afternoon for myself and 2 other adi to show us around the closest tc area.
You could tell Lou was so well known and thought of so highly , she would go above and beyond to help anyone( you don’t get many like that).
The sad passing has really hit the whole industry hard , she was taken well too young ,it’s hit us hard as a industry ,I can’t imagine how you Blaine ,children and family and friends are feeling , but remember what a amazing wife, mother ,family member ,friend she was and she will always be looking down on you.
Lou will never be forgotten by anyone.
Rip Lou Walsh and thank you from the bottom of my heart the help you gave me and many many others.
Sending love to Blaine and family ( not forgetting Colin too ) at this extremely sad time.
Thinking of you all ❤️
I have met Lou a couple of times and for someone who has made such an impact on the driving instructor industry she was one of the most humble person I have ever known. No ego, no heirs or graces just ‘Lou’.
Thoughts are with Blaine and family.
I have read a lot of post from and about Lou , I’ve been to just one part3:check test session but it so imbedded in my life and future as an Adi , so devistating to lose an amazing lady always giving to so many, just when her own life was making/taking such an important turn to the forever home with the ever important family.
I’ve never been a part of the big learner relay but we need to continue the amazing work she’s done over resent years and raise money in her memory for this and many years to come. ( we can/will donate in her memory without the glorious journey she took many on)
Lou’s infectious grin sitting in the back of my car is a great memory of her . One of the nicest most genuine ladies I’ve ever met . Her training courses were second to none and a fun day .
Rest in peace Lou you are truly missed x
I never actually did a big learner relay with Lou however attended one of her workshops and she helped me so much when I was a PDI watching my videos then giving amazing feed back. It was with Lous help that I qualified last September don’t think I would of with out all her help
Lou will be truly missed by all in the driving industry. Heart ❤️ felt condolences go out to Blaine and the kids
I found Lou and Blaine back when I first started 15 years ago. I would never have passed my part 3 or standards checks without her. I had the pleasure of meeting her last year when I joined the BLR, felt like I was meeting a celebrity. Amazing lady, I was so shocked and saddened by the news of her passing.
Shine bright Lou, you will be sorely missed 🌟🌟🌟
Having followed Lou as a PDI to becoming lead car, every interaction with Lou was a positive one, with nothing but encouragement and support.
She was a truly fantastic person.
life can be so cruel sometimes, and I hope Blaine, her children and all their family and friends find some comfort in knowing what an amazing person we all thought she was to so many people who had the privilege of knowing her, even for a short while.
RIEP Lou xxx
Although no longer instructing you were huge part of my leaning as a pedi and as a qualified instructor, from meeting you at your seminars and your online platform. I’m utterly shocked and heartbroken for your family, a tragic loss to so many ❤️