Steve Jameson was flooded with support after sharing the story of his dad Brian
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Brian Jameson was a lifelong cricket and football fan
Brian Jameson was a lifelong cricket and football fan(Image: Supplied)
A son has paid tribute after his final wish for his dad came true. Earlier this month the ECHO reported on Brian Jameson, 90, from Hunts Cross, who was living at his son Steve’s house in Southport after being released from A&E.
Brian, a huge Liverpool fan, introduced Steve and his brother, Brain junior, to his favourite football team. However, Brian was diagnosed with stage four rectal cancer two years ago. Last month, he was given weeks to live by doctors after being released from hospital to receive care at home.
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Steve explained he had given up his ticket for the Carabao Cup Final against Newcastle on March 16 in the hope his dad would live long enough to watch one last cup final with him.
Brian lived to watch the final, which Liverpool ended up losing 2-1. He died peacefully at home five days later on March 21. Paying tribute, Steve said: “He didn't get the win versus Newcastle but he saw it all and we watched so many finals together, either in person or at home. He joins my mum now and his hero Shankly in the sky. He was loved by us all.”
Brian used to work at Wirral's Cammell Laird shipyard and also played professional cricket for Birkenhead Park and Wavertree, where he was an "unbelievable spin bowler".
In later years Brian moved to Bognor Regis on the south coast but moved back to Merseyside after his wife Pam died aged 69. Steve said: “Myself and (my wife) Donna relocated back up north to Southport in 2010 due to my work but just a few months after the move, mum passed away unexpectedly whilst visiting us around her birthday. It was a huge shock. Dad couldn’t face living on his own in Bognor Regis, so left his home to come and live with us.
“Donna has looked after him since then and their bond has been fantastic. I really couldn’t have done it without her and it’s thanks very much to Donna, ably supported by myself and Brain Jr, that dad was able to die peacefully at home.
Brian Jameson Snr (far left) with Brian Jnr and Steve celebrating Liverpool's sixth Champions League in Spain
Brian Jameson Snr (far left) with Brian Jnr and Steve celebrating Liverpool's sixth Champions League in Spain
“Mum never got to see her great grandchildren but dad has seen all 11 born and set up accounts for all of them when they were one year-old.
“You could often see dad sitting quietly on the balcony overlooking our garden whilst all the children were playing, smoking his cigar and drinking his black coffee and just watching them with a smile on his face. He adored them all and called them one to 11 by age as he found that easier.”
Brian's passion for Liverpool FC began in the 1960s and 1970s as Bill Shankly’s side rose from the second division of English football to become one of the best teams in Europe.
Steve said: “He took me to my first Reds game and placed me in the boys pen whilst he was in the Kop with his mates – for anyone that knew the boys pen at that time, it was the scariest two hours of my life, frightening.
“He used to talk about great games he’d been too, both legs of the European Cup versus Celtic, being at Wembley when we won the FA Cup for the first time versus Leeds United and the memorable time we won the league at Wolves on the last game of the season when he didn’t have a ticket but managed to climb through a toilet window to witness a memorable game and another league title.
Brian Jameson (far right) with Steve and Brian Jnr enjoyed many holidays together
Brian Jameson (far right) with Steve and Brian Jnr enjoyed many holidays together
“We went to many games together along with Brain and when he was a youthful 84 years of age we booked a holiday together - two weeks in Benidorm in the hope that we would get to Madrid for the 2019 Champions League final.
“We did, but we didn’t manage to get tickets so we went anyway, on two coaches from Benidorm to Madrid with all the lads - what a trip that was. Watching the reds and cricket was his life in his latter years and he was glued to the box whenever wasn't asleep.”
Though his diagnosis took its toll, Steve has many happy memories of his dad in his final years. He said: “The past couple of years have been really tough. Dad was diagnosed with rectal cancer and had two bouts of radiation therapy which helped prolong his life.
“We knew he didn’t have long. The consultant told me privately that he wouldn’t see his 90th birthday but he did, and he had a brandy and cigar to celebrate it with all the family with him in February.
Brian played cricket in his younger years
Brian played cricket in his younger years(Image: Supplied)
“However, he has suffered these past few months and how we managed to keep him at home we will never know, but it was his wish to die peacefully at home and we made that happen.
“Myself, dad, Brian Jr and Donna regularly met at Nero’s coffee shop in Southport where dad enjoyed his cigar and black coffee, which became a ritual from the time dad moved in with us and one that we will be keeping up with. It is our chance to keep mum and dad’s memory alive, chew the fat and take time out of our busy lives.
“The house is now very quiet, no carer visits four times a day, daily visits from the district nurses and hospice at home nurses, no night carers, no panic alarms going off through the night. But I would take that all day long to have him back with us. Rest in peace dad, you’ll be sorely missed by us all.”