Hollie’s Story

The Inspiring Story of Hollie Gazzard.

Hollie was a determined and successful individual, a true inspiration for others, loved by her family and friends and highly regarded by colleagues and clients alike. Hollie was vibrant, fun, vivacious, talented, and beautiful. She is sadly missed by all who knew her.

Hollie had a love of sports and like her dad, Nick, she was an avid Manchester United fan and visited Old Trafford to watch them play. While fashion, style and beauty were of great interest, Hollie’s true passion was for hairdressing.

In November 2012, Hollie gained a place at Steiner Training Academy in London. Before she started her new position in March 2013, she accepted a job at Zest Bar, where her outgoing character and bubbly personality were well suited to the role. In the spring of the following year, Hollie joined Steiner and spent five weeks training before being allocated a position on Carnival Line in the Bahamas.

Rebecca Webster, Massage Therapist, and Hollie’s friend on the Carnival Sensation in 2013

Rebecca Webster met Hollie on the cruise ship in 2013 told us:

”I met Hollie on the Carnival Sensation back in 2013. I was a massage therapist on board and I had been on the ship since February when Hollie came on board.

From the first moment we met on her first day, Hollie was filled with excitement and enthusiasm about being on board. She had a constant smile on her face all the time which was contagious to everyone she came across. We spent majority of our time together while she was onboard and there was never a dull moment being with Hollie. We constantly talked, laughed and went off the ship together when we docked.

We would spend nights in each others cabin watching movies and eating junk food, had the casual night out in the crew bar where we drank and danced the night away. My time with Hollie was the first time I enjoyed being on board and she helped me see another side of being there other than working.

We didn’t know each other long but for me, Hollie became a great friend in our short time together and with her smile, personality and love for life, she isn’t someone you can forget.”

Despite a love of travel, working onboard a ship wasn’t for Hollie and she returned to London where she joined The Edge Hair & Beauty in Edgware.

Working and living in London became expensive and Hollie made the decision to return to Gloucester in August 2013. She found a position at Fringe Benefits & Le Belle Hair and Beauty in the city where her flair and creativity made her popular with her colleagues and clients. In addition, she joined her sister, Chloe, at the King Teddy in Longlevens, Gloucester where she worked part-time behind the bar.

Tragically Hollie was murdered at her place of work, Fringe Benefits in Gloucester on February 18th, 2014, by her boyfriend, after months of obsessive behaviour, jealousy, and harassment.

Hollie’s story has touched the hearts of many. Her family and the Trust want to turn tragedy into something positive, providing a safer future for all, just as Hollie herself would have done.