Family pay tribute to man found dead in Hanley building fire
Jamie Parker has been described as "a cheeky chappy" with a "great sense of humour"
Last updated 15th Apr 2024
The family of a man who's body was found after a building fire in Hanley have paid tribute to him.
Emergency services were called to a fire at the old Yates' on Brockley Square earlier last week. A number of days later they confirmed that a body was found inside, who has now been identified as 40 year old Jamie Parker, from Stoke-on-Trent.
In a family tribute, his sister Stephanie Parker has described him as a "cheeky chappy", who could "light up the room"
She went on to say: "He'd always been a handsome lad and the girls loved him, especially my friends.
"Like anyone else he had likes and dislikes, he loved films, music and singing. Jamie was a very much-loved brother, son, uncle and cousin. This is how we want to remember him. He got dealt some bad cards in life, made some wrong decisions and went down a dark path, but this wasn't our Jamie, not the real Jamie."
The family are now calling for more awareness to be raised for people suffering with mental health issues, homelessness, and drugs support.
Ms Parker said, "This is a heart-breaking tragedy which should never have happened. We will always love and remember Jamie for who he was. He had a name, he had a family and his life meant just as much as yours and mine. Sweet dreams my big brother, I love you.”
An investigation into the fire is continuing. Staffordshire Police have confirmed that a post-mortem was carried out on 20 March, but a cause of death was unascertained.