Brother's moving tributes to his 'idol' 12 months after he died in Lisbon funicular crash with his partner
“What I have learnt ever since this began a year ago is how much he meant not just to our family, but to everyone who knew him.”
Tributes have been paid to a Wigan drama lecturer and his partner on the first anniversary of their deaths in a funicular disaster.
Will Nelson, 44, and Kayleigh Smith, 36, from Macclesfield, were among 16 people to die when the hillside tram in Lisbon, Portugal derailed and crashed into a building on September 3, 2025.
Will taught at the Arden School of Theatre in Manchester and was involved in several Wigan Little Theatre productions.
Twelve months on, his brother Gareth said: “This has been the most difficult year of my life. A living hell is the best description. It is still difficult to put into words how much Will is missed.
“What I have learnt ever since this began a year ago is how much he meant not just to our family, but to everyone who knew him. I know of so many occasions when friends and acquaintances have said when Will helped them, fought in their corner and unselfishly gave his time to help anyway he could. He and Kayleigh loved their theatre work and to hear that their legacy will be honoured in multiple ways, in multiple places fills me with pride that you wouldn’t believe.
“I often think to myself, ‘what would he say about the change of political landscape, the football, the wrestling?’ I miss his booming voice, his burning intellect and wish I could have one more video game session or one more discussion. He was my big brother and idol, and I hope I can carry on his life mission to look after others.”
John Tyrer, who is appearing in Sleuth at Wigan Little Theatre, said: “Will meant a lot to a lot of people, and I don't claim to have been much closer to him than most people, but I met him at the theatre when we did David Copperfield together, I learned a lot from him, loved his company and I think about him all the time.
“To mark the anniversary and pay my respects, I'd like to personally dedicate my own performances for the rest of the run of Sleuth to Will, and my thoughts are with his and Kayleigh's families.”
Kayleigh’s family said: “The last 12 months have been incredibly difficult for a lot of people connected with Kayleigh. Kayleigh and Will have left a huge void in our lives that cannot be filled and we will forever be reminded of that.
“We are all so proud of her, which makes it harder. She had just passed her master’s degree, with distinction, at the Arden School of Theatre in Manchester two weeks before the crash and was destined for a successful career as a professional theatre director, having already won many awards and nominations during her theatre life.
“She battled with undiagnosed ADHD all through her life, until her eventual diagnosis in 2022, yet remained defiant and still achieved so much. She was a shining light and inspiration for the many people she helped and encouraged.
“At this point, she was the happiest she had ever been, and when she travelled with Will to Lisbon, they had many exciting plans for when they returned.”
Rebecca Gilmore, from law firm Hugh James, is supporting the families of the couple and a third British victim, Andrew David Kenneth Young, 82, from Holyhead.