The father of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne has died at the age of 45. Michael Payne was found dead at his first-floor flat in Maidstone, Kent where he lived alone. He had spent years battling. Her father Brian Williams died in 2007, following a series of health issues including an aneurysm which had left him partially paralysed. Brian and Elizabeth Williams separated in 1986.

Sarah Jane 'Sara' Payne, MBE^[1] (néeWilliams; born 1 March 1969) is a British media campaigner known for her campaign for parents' right for a controlled access to the sex offender registry, spurred by the murder of her daughter Sarah in 2000.

Biography[edit]

Sara Payne was born Sara Jane Williams was born in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England, on 1 March 1969. She left school in 1985, at the age of 16. Shortly after, she met her future husband Michael Payne.^[2] They married in West Sussex on 4 August 1990 and had a total of five children who were born between 1987 and 2003. They announced their separation in September 2003, blaming the strain of coping with the murder of their daughter Sarah three years earlier. They had four surviving children; two sons and two daughters, the youngest daughter born in late 2003 just after their separation.

On 27 October 2014, Michael Payne was found dead at the age of 46 at his home in Maidstone, Kent. He and his wife had been separated for 11 years by then, despite media reports in the early stages of their separation that they had been hoping to get back together at some stage. The death of Michael Payne was not treated as suspicious, and was believed to have been caused by an alcoholism related illness. It was believed that he died several days before his body was found.^[3]

Sara Payne also endured the death of her 44-year-old brother Paul from cancer in January 2003, and her mother Elizabeth Williams died from the same illness the following year - media sources including the Daily Mirror wrongly reported at the time that it was Lesley Payne, the step-mother of Michael Payne, who had died.^[4] Her father Brian Williams died in 2007, following a series of health issues including an aneurysm which had left him partially paralysed. Brian and Elizabeth Williams separated in 1986.

Campaign for Sarah's Law[edit]

Since the murder of her daughter Sarah in July 2000, she has campaigned for parents to be given the right to know if a convicted child sex offender is living in their community.^[5]In 2008, eight years after the start of the campaign, a pilot scheme was introduced by four British police forces. If successful, it may be extended across the country in the future.^[6]

In 2004, she published a book, Sara Payne: A Mother's Story, which was centred on her daughter's murder, the tragedy's effect on the family, and her campaign for Sarah's Law, as well as an opening chapter which detailed her life in the 15 years preceding the murder. Payne has continually denied accusations that she has financially profited from her daughter's death through book sales and regular media appearances.^{[citation needed]}

As of 2019, Payne is still involved in advocating for children's rights through The Phoenix Post organization which she co-founded.^{[citation needed]}

Awards and honours[edit]

On 31 December 2008, Sara Payne was made an MBE in the New Year Honours list.^[7][8]On 26 January 2009, she was appointed Victims Champion by the Justice SecretaryJack Straw.^[9]On 9 June 2012, Sara Payne was granted an Honorary Doctorate by the Open University at a graduation ceremony held at Ely Cathedral.Payne is currently a trustee of The Phoenix Trust, an organization which assisted victims of child sex abuse, and combatted such abuse.^[10]

Health[edit]

On 23 December 2009, Sara Payne was taken to St George's Hospital, Tooting, south London, following complications after brain surgery in the summer of 2008 to cure a ruptured aneurysm.^[11] On 24 December 2009, it was stated that she was critically ill.^[12] Later reports indicated that she had responded well to treatment and she came out of hospital several weeks later.^[13]

News International phone hacking scandal[edit]

On 28 July 2011, it was reported that Sara Payne's mobile phone was one of those targeted by the News of the World as part of the News International phone hacking scandal, which had led to owner Rupert Murdoch's decision to close the newspaper down soon after the allegations were publicised earlier that month.^[14] She was said to be 'absolutely devastated and deeply disappointed' at the disclosure, while a colleague close to her said that she was 'in bits' over the affair.^[15]

References[edit]

1. ^'Campaigner Sara Payne becomes MBE'. BBC News. 31 December 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
2. ^Sara Payne: A Mother's Story
3. ^Father of Sarah Payne found dead at his home
4. ^Deveney, Catherine (30 May 2004). 'Survival skills'. The Scotsman. Edinburgh. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
5. ^MP backs Sarah's Law paedophile scheme
6. ^'Sarah's Law' sex offender alert scheme may be extended
7. ^'Campaigner Sara Payne becomes MBE'. BBC News. 31 December 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
8. ^'Campaigner Sara Payne becomes MBE'. BBC Online. 31 December 2008. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
9. ^'Sara Payne new Victims Champion'. BBC News. 26 January 2009. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
10. ^Charity Commission. The Phoenix Foundation Limited, registered charity no. 1138097.
11. ^Sara Payne 'improves' after brain surgery
12. ^'Sara Payne in critical condition'. BBC News. 24 December 2009. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
13. ^Sara Payne's health 'improving'
14. ^'News of the World targeted phone of Sarah Payne's mother', The Guardian, 28 July 2011
15. ^Nick Davies, Amelia Hill (28 July 2011). 'News of the World targeted phone of Sarah Payne's mother'. The Guardian. London.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)

Aaron Stewart spent his summers on the road as a PGA Tour kid. The behind-the-scenes visits at the Columbus Zoo during the Memorial Tournament stand out among his favorite memories as well as the “music man” under the big tree on Hilton Head Island.

He grew up on tournament golf.

It’s not surprising that Stewart would want to follow in the footsteps of his father, Payne, a three-time major winner and sporting icon. A humble Aaron calls it more of a blessing than an expectation that he’s now back in golf. The former SMU player (just like dad) was recently named vice president of sports marketing for Diamond Resorts and executive director of the LPGA’s Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions.

Oct. 25 marks the 20th anniversary of the day Payne’s tragic death played out on television screens across the country. Four months after Payne won the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, a private Learjet carrying the golfer and five others crashed near Aberdeen, South Dakota, after flying on autopilot for several hours.

“The fact that this is 20 years is pretty crazy to me,” said Aaron. “To think that amount of time has gone by.”

Aaron said he recently did an interview for PGA Tour radio with his sister Chelsea, who works for AT&T, and they talked about how their dad would’ve gotten along in today’s PC society. Imagine trying to control him on Twitter, Chelsea said.

“It never came from a mean-spirited place,” said Aaron of his father’s jokes. “Everybody knew that’s Payne having a good time. He was able to get away with it.”

Aaron, 30, looks a lot like Payne. People tell him that all the time. They also tell stories, and Aaron never tires of hearing them. The Stewart family still keeps in touch with many of the PGA Tour families Aaron and Chelsea grew up with.

“He’s got Payne’s charisma,” said Diamond Resorts CEO Mike Flaskey. “He’s a leader that people want to follow.”

Stewart grew up playing golf with Flaskey at Isleworth. After a short stint with the Tavistock Group after college, Stewart became part of the inaugural Diamond Marketing Mentorship Program, a nearly year-long apprenticeship program that takes young professionals around the country and prepares them for marketing leadership positions.

After completing the program, Stewart landed a job that had over 400 employees reporting to him.

“He was special,” said Flaskey of Stewart taking on such a hefty role at a young age.

After several years as National OPC Program Manager and Regional Marketing Director, Stewart and his wife, Naiara, took a break from work to travel the world, an adventure that had long been in the making.

They visited 40 countries that year, spending the most time visiting family from their mom, Tracey’s, native Australia.

One of the reasons Flaskey created the Diamond Resorts TOC was to focus on a younger demographic. Millennials account for 12 percent of Diamond’s total membership.

When Did Sarah Payne Dad Died In Real Life

“We know millennials want to travel,” said Flaskey. “They want to get out there and go.”

When Aaron and his wife returned to the U.S., they decided to move back to Orlando, Florida. He returned to the company in March as Director of National Partnerships.

The 2020 Diamond Resorts TOC takes place Jan. 16-19 on Tranquilo Golf Course at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club Orlando. Winners from the last two seasons are invited to play alongside sports stars and celebrities. Eun-Hee Ji won the 2019 edition along with former Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz.

When Did Sarah Payne Dad Died Recently

The tournament, which averaged 15,000 fans over the weekend in its debut, aims to be the biggest party on tour. To that end, there will be three concerts in 2020. While LPGA pros compete for $1.2 million over 72 holes, the celebrities vie for their own $500,000 purse using a modified Stableford format. The event has raised $3.5 million for children’s healthcare.

With the LPGA adding a second stop in south Florida after the TOC – the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio – the field at Tranquilo might be stronger in 2020. Michelle Wie’s victory at the 2018 HSBC Women’s World Championship makes her eligible for the season-opener should be healthy enough to compete.

Part of what attracted Flaskey to bring back a TOC format to the LPGA was the fact that it’s an earned event. In Stewart, he has found a man who is uniquely qualified to lead it.

“We just think that growing up in a lifetime of golf brings credibility to our event,” said Flaskey of Payne’s only son. “It helps us really take it to the next level.”

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