Here follows a speech, which I (Casper Roos) gave on 15th January 2005 at Louise's cremation.

"This week saw a senseless act of violence in Holland. It was very close to home for most of us here present. Louise died on 10th January 2005, due to the fact that a disturbed person threw a brick from a viaduct through her car screen window, while she was on her way back home. You will understand that it is a great loss for her partner Mari, her parents Bas and Ingrid, little sister Ingeborg and the rest of the family. A loss so unexpected and hard to bear, that talking about it today is very difficult. I am helping them with this at their request. This does not proof to be a very easy task. The only thing that helps a little is all the warm memories we have of Louise.

It's therefore also comforting to see so many people here today in Uden to say their last goodbyes to Louise Angelique. Angelique, as her family called her, was born on 19th august 1974. From being an infant, music played a big roll in her live. Her mother told a story that she loved the film 'Grease' and played on her toy-guitar while singing at the bottom of the stairs. A few years later she showed a lot of interest in the band Bon Jovi and later to Golden Earring. In some cases she even followed the band in the car with her friends Kari Anne, Leon, Corne and Arles to a few gigs. As Arles was the only one with a driving license at that time, you found them very often sleeping on airbeds at their parent's house. Sometimes there would be about 8 or 10 sleeping there.

After secondary school Angelique followed an Art course in Nijmegen and also lived there for about half a year. At the end of 1994 she met her present friend Mari at a Golden Earring Fan-meeting in the 'Nieuwe Pul' in Uden and started living together in 1995.

When they started living together she called herself Louise, and is so known to many Golden Earring Fans and friends. I myself met her in 1991 at gigs. She was also at the opening of the 'Golden Earring Street' in Almere with her pre-mentioned friends, as was I with some of my friends. One of those friends wrote a piece in the scrapbook, which read as follows: "A lot of chatting and looking around, plus met other fans, but Louise was nowhere to be seen. First she was having her photo taken with Rinus, then she stood talking to George, a bit later she managed to grab a poster and then she stood in front of us with a huge grin, and each time she wanted to tell us something her face lit up and smiled. And then she started to tell us whatever it was she had to tell". Someone typically described her as: "First there was a huge smile and then Louise followed…" Someone else described her as jovial, affectionate, friendly and cheerful, plus always in for a chat.

These are only a few examples on how Louise was. But also to others she was someone with a warm heart, and involved with loads of Fans and their families. Louise was therefore also very quickly part of, as I call it, 'The Golden Earring Family'. - A large group of Fans who meet each other at gigs. Louise had always some news or rumour to tell to fans about Golden Earring, plus photo's taken by Mari were shown. This group of friends including Mari and Louise were always to be found on the first row at gigs. But Louise was different than other female fans. She always stayed in the back ground, never threw herself at the band, but with her calm and collective manor and her ever smiling face she had a remarkable relationship with Barry Hay & George Kooymans.

But Louise had also a great relation ship with her family. There was a warm-friendly family atmosphere with a lot of support for her younger sister Ingeborg. Ingeborg wrote: "For me Angelique was a lovely sister, who always made time for me and always made me laugh". Louise also made time to go out for the day with the whole family to Uden or Alphen aan de Rijn for example.

Her parents always supported her hobby Golden Earring and sometimes went with her to see the shows. The first time I met her parents was when we dropped her off at home after a gig at Zoeterwoude in 1991, we got greeted with open arms. Friends of Louise were always welcome at her parents home. You could see where she inherited her warm and caring manors from her parents. Mother Ingrid is in nursing as I am, so besides Golden Earring we had a lot in common. Also with granny and granddad did Louise have a great bond. When granddad died in 2003, Louise took it on herself to look after and visit granny in The Hague frequently. They (Mari & Louise) even took granny to Kaderrock 2004, where Louise and Mari introduced me to granny.

Louise worked by the CD-pressing dept. of EMI. Sometimes she gave me a few promotional copies. Her last job was by Ferro. (As we heard earlier today)

The loss of Louise is especially difficult today for Mari and her family as the joy and care she brought wherever she went has gone.

For everyone who is present here today, we have to say goodbye to a very special person. As they say in English: "I've just lost somebody". It is not by chance that I bring this up. There is a Golden Earring song from 1968 titled, 'I've just lost somebody'. This song was re-recorded in June 2004 in Amsterdam for their forthcoming new CD - Naked III. I can announce with great pride that the Golden Earring have decided on request from their Fans through the web, that they are releasing this single in memory of Louise. On 28th January 2005 the new acoustic version will be officially available, but especially today in memory of Louise the band have made this song available for Mari. Let us remember Louise with great fondness every time we hear this song on the radio/TV, in the car or on your own stereo. She may well have been taken from us, but we will never forget her…

I wish Louise's relatives and all present here today strength and courage. Let us now think of Louise in our own way while listening to the next song.

Ladies & Gentlemen… especially for Louise Angelique Donk: Golden Earring with I've just lost somebody!

Casper Roos