TRIBUTES PAID TO HOUSE FIRE VICTIM
‘Lovely bloke and comedian’ died after smoke inhalation in blaze at home:
ATAXI driver who died in a house fire was a “comedian” and a “lovely bloke”, say his shocked family.
Mike Beeby, 57, who worked for Tryfan Cabs, in Bangor, for around 20 years, died at his home in Erw Las, in Bethesda, last Tuesday morning.
Following his death, his cousin Amy Jones wrote on Facebook: “My poor cousin Michael Beeby. I am grateful to the emergency services, who did the best they could.”
The 36-year-old, who lives in Oxfordshire, said: “I haven’t seen Mike for a few years. It’s a huge shock to us as his family. It’s awful. We don’t know what’s happened.
“He was such a lovely bloke. He was great to my mum and dad, and when my dad passed away in 2011.
“He used to come down here on his motorbike and joke that it was for the Oxfordshire air.
“He was a comedian. I have spoken to his son Stephen but I can’t really say too much more.
“It’s made me realise how important families are.”
Fire crews fought the blaze and brought Mr Beeby out of the house, after being called at 10.40am.
He was taken to hospital in Stoke by air ambulance, but it was announced last Wednesday that he had died after suffering smoke inhalation.
It is not known what caused the fire, which is not thought to have been suspicious.
Gareth Birkett, manager of Tryfan Cabs, said Mr Beeby had worked for the firm for two decades and was a hard-working employee.
“The staff are all shocked,” he said. “Our thoughts are with the family and our condolences go out to them.” Neighbour Dilwyn Jones, who called the fire service, said: “I never really saw him because he worked night-shifts. “The only time I remember having a chat was when we were both digging our cars out of the snow. A lot of people in the estate said that he kept himself to himself. “His son used to visit him years ago. His sister, Mandy, only lives around the corner in Maes Coetmor. We had never spoken enough for me to realise that she lived there.” Police and fire officers are conducting a joint investigation to establish the cause.