A man from Dunston who was 'loved by everybody' will be honoured with a community festival following his tragic death at the age of 27. Liam Smith, affectionately known as 'Blue' among friends, was described as the Gateshead area's 'only Mackem' before his sudden passing on August 2, 2025.
Funeral and Tributes
His funeral weeks later saw a sea of red and white, with loved ones wearing Sunderland shirts in his memory. Now, friend Ashleigh Smails, former landlord of the Dun Cow pub, is organizing a special event to support mental health charity Mind and Dunston UTS football club.
Liam was a regular at the pub, and Ashleigh recalled him as 'a big character known by everyone'. She said they were 'absolutely gobsmacked' by his death, as he was one of the 'bubbliest and happiest' people one could meet.
Raising Awareness for Men's Mental Health
Ashleigh stated: 'Liam was someone who everybody loved, and that feeling has made us want to raise awareness for men's mental health and put on this event for Mind. That's something I saw at the pub as well, you would be surprised how many people are struggling with things.'
She added: 'You couldn't be in a room with Liam and not laugh to be honest, he had a heart of gold and has been so missed by everyone here. It's so sad how young he was as well, he was always baby-faced but he had so much of his life ahead of him, and that is so upsetting.'
Mother's Tribute
Last year, Liam's mother Kim paid tribute: 'He was bubbly, you heard him before you seen him. He used to like going out with his friends. He really was one of the lads, he was always out. He loved his mouth organ, he used to play that all the time. We were very close I just can't get my head around it that he's not here. He was such a big part of everyone's life.'
The Dunston Blue Festival
Working with her nephew, a physio at Dunston UTS football club, Ashleigh has organized the Dunston Blue Festival at the club's ground on Saturday, July 11. The event will feature live music, food and drinks, crafts, a bouncy castle, face painting, and raffles, aiming to 'bring people together'. Representatives from Mind will attend, with proceeds split between the charity and the football club. Tickets are available via the Dunston Blue Festival Facebook page.
