Touching tributes to Echo’s much-loved Julie Ritchie-Evans (From Bournemouth Echo)

Touching tributes to Echo’s much-loved Julie Ritchie-Evans

11:17am Saturday 13th March 2010 in

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TOUCHING tributes have been paid to a much-loved former Daily Echo employee who has lost her four-and-a-half-year battle for life.

Fun-loving Julie Ritchie-Evans, 43, was diagnosed with breast cancer in autumn 2005. Doctors told her that without treatment she had no more than 12 weeks to live.

After mulling it over, Julie threw a Bonfire Night party for 50 people and announced that she had opted for treatment. Having lost her husband to cancer she knew only too well how tough chemotherapy could be.

But, despite treatment and being put on the breast cancer ‘wonder drug’ Herceptin, the disease spread to her liver and bones.

During an inspiring interview in the Echo, she said: “I always give myself goals. I swim, go to the gym and cycle. I thrive on that. If you don’t focus on anything you can get very within yourself.”

Close friends said she remained extremely positive to the end, enjoying holidays across the globe and buying a brand new Audi convertible.

A motoring field sales representative, award-winning Julie was respected by both her colleagues and her many customers in the motor trade.

Daily Echo advertising manager Guy Neale said: “Julie was not only a great colleague but a dear friend to the people she worked with. She will be sadly missed.”

Her close friend and former Echo colleague Lucy Chilcott described Julie as “a trusted and loyal friend.” She added: “Julie was always up for a good laugh and a party.

“She had a huge love of the sun and was a real beach babe. We spent many hours together enjoying the sunshine.”

• Julie’s funeral service will be held at St Andrew’s United Reformed Church on Richmond Hill, Bournemouth, on Tuesday, March 23 at 12.30pm.