Liam Smith, who was known as ‘Blue’ to his friends, was described as the Gateshead area’s ‘only Mackem’
Liam Smith, of Dunston, who tragically died at 27-years-old, on August 2, 2025(Image: Kim Smith)
A man from Dunston ‘who everybody loved’ is set to be honoured with an event after his tragic death aged 27. Liam Smith, who was known as ‘Blue’ to his friends, was described as the Gateshead area’s ‘only Mackem’, before his sudden passing on August 2, 2025.
His funeral just weeks later was a sea of red and white, with his loved ones all wearing Sunderland shirts in his name. Now, his friend Ashleigh Smails, who used to run the Dun Cow pub in the area, is hosting a special event less than a year later, supporting both mental health charity Mind and Dunston UTS football club.
Liam was a regular at the pub, and Ashleigh says he was ‘a big character known by everyone’, and they were all ‘absolutely gobsmacked’ when they heard of his passing, because he was one of the ‘bubbliest and happiest’ people that you would ever meet.
She said: “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.
Liam Smith, of Dunston, who tragically died at 27-years-old, on August 2, 2025(Image: Kim Smith)
“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.
Paying tribute to her beloved son last year, Liam’s mum Kim also said: “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, which will be held at Dunston UTS football club on Saturday, July 11(Image: Ashleigh Smails)
Now, working with her nephew, who is a physio at Dunston UTS football club, Ashleigh has organised for the Dunston Blue Festival to be held at the ground. With live music, food and drinks, crafts, a bouncy castle, face painting and raffles, she is hoping that the event will ‘bring people together’.
Representatives from Mind will be there on the day itself, Saturday, July 11, with the money being split between the charity and the football club. For more information, and to get your tickets, you can visit the Dunston Blue Festival page on Facebook here.
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