Never forgotten
AN emotional celebration was held at the graveside of teenager Michael Quinn on what should have been his 18th birthday.
Michael, from Lemington, Newcastle, died from an asthma attack at the age of just 14. The youngster, a pupil at Walbottle Campus, collapsed at his home in October 2014. Despite the efforts of paramedics to save him, he suffered a cardiac arrest as a result of the sudden attack and lost his life.
On Wednesday, his family and friends gathered at West Road Cemetery in Newcastle to celebrate his 18th birthday.
Michael’s grave was decorated with balloons and flowers and a piper played Happy Birthday, Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Michael Row The Boat Ashore.
Then his brothers and sisters – LaurieLeigh, 15, Grant, 14, Bo-Peaches, 10, TigerLily, nine, Leonard, six, Freddie, four, and Bluebell-Beatrice, two – released doves into the sky before balloons in the shape of rosary beads, made by his aunt, were let off into the air.
As the balloons rose, his family and friends shouted “Happy Birthday Michael”.
His grandmother June Hunter, 59, of Benwell, said: “Everything we are doing is to celebrate Michael’s life. His aunt made the rosary bead balloons and we sent them flying straight to heaven to Michael.
“We will always remember him. He was full of life and a brilliant comedian. He would play as many tricks on you as he could.
“He wanted to be a singer – that was his dream. He was my star when he was here and he’s still my best star.”
Michael’s mum Linda Walker and her partner Leonard Conroy also paid tribute to the teenager and said it had been an emotional day for them.
Linda, 36, added: “It’s my son’s 18th birthday and we brought everybody up for the celebration. We love and miss him so much.”
Michael had dreams of starting a music career and was a huge fan of former X Factor contestant Ella Henderson, who even sent flowers to the family home after he died.