PJ’s powerful Oxfam legacy

A now 60-year-old Ashley Norris first met PJ in Lancaster during their uni days, where they bonded instantly over their shared love of football and music.

Despite their lives going in different directions – Ash starting a family and PJ becoming a ‘fun-loving bachelor’ – their bond only grew stronger. Whenever they were reunited, it was like no time had passed at all.

Whether they met up in London, at the pub, or further afield at international football matches, they always fell right back into their youthful antics.

Even when life brought its challenges for Ash’s family, PJ was always there to support them.

In 2011, at the age of just four, Ash’s youngest daughter, Astrid, was diagnosed with cancer. For three years she was treated by the wonderful people at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Thankfully, their daughter beat the cancer but not without bumps along the road. Naturally, the knock-on effects of such a life-altering event are significant and traumatic for the whole family.

But PJ was always there, right by their side. That is until, tragically, during the COVID lockdown, PJ was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Through the shock and grief, Ash continued to show up for PJ – as PJ always had for him. And in the final year of PJ’s life, Ash took care of him, often visiting him in hospital.

They discussed anything and everything – from memories and funny stories, to what PJ wanted to do with his money.

When it came to money, PJ made quite a lot of it working in stocks and shares in the city. But he wasn’t a big spender and made sure not to squander it.

Ultimately, PJ put his trust in Ash and a small group of other friends from university – who he treated more like family – making them joint trustees of his estate.

Together, they wanted to make as much difference as possible in PJ’s name.

By the time PJ sadly passed, however, his closest friends really felt his loss – making it harder to jump back into normal life and all its responsibilities.

So, Deborah, who was no longer working, offered to research charities for PJ’s legacy. The aim? To make the biggest possible difference across the UK and beyond in PJ’s honour.

It was at this point that Deborah turned to her two daughters, Astrid and Lola. At the time, Astrid was very involved in appeals for Gaza. Particularly relating to videos of girls her age on social media saying they have no home, safety or protection.

The devastation unfolding in these people’s lives, without their say or control, really struck a chord with Astrid. So much so, she began donating proceeds from her jewellery and clothes sales to support people in Gaza.

So, when it came to distributing PJ’s considerable gift among charities, as a family, they knew they wanted to support vital humanitarian work in Gaza.

The whole family wanted PJ’s gift to have the biggest reach it could. And together, they decided Oxfam was a trusted partner to achieve this.

Not only for Oxfam's legacy and familiarity on the high street, but also its vital campaigning work and infrastructure on the ground.

After chatting to one of Oxfam’s passionate fundraisers about her experience with colleagues working in Gaza, they were reassured that PJ’s donation would go where it’s most desperately needed.

Now, PJ is remembered for even more than being an incredible friend to Ash and others. His legacy is also supporting vital humanitarian work in Gaza and fighting for a fairer, more equal future.

Through his gift – with the help of Ash, Deborah, Astrid and Lola – PJ’s desire to make a real difference in the lives of others continues to be realised.