FAREWELL TO A FRIEND
Hundreds attend vigil for ‘Mr Newcastle’
HUNDREDS gathered to remember “Mr Newcastle”, Botanist boss Paul Burns.
It’s not unusual to see a queue outside Tup Tup Palace, but the crows who gathered there on Thursday night had not come to party, but to mourn.
“Queen Bee” Paul, was known as the life and soul of Newcastle’s nightlife, and the number of people who came together to say goodbye was a testament to his popularity in the city.
Mourners filled every pew in St Nicholas Cathedral, where friends and family spoke of their love for Paul, and their pain at his sudden death, aged 37, over the weekend.
A blue heart – known as Paul’s signature on texts and messages – was filled with candles, while floral tributes and messages were left for his family.
Friend and Tup Tup Palace boss Christiano Crawford, who had organised the vigil, said: “The reason for doing this tonight was my feeling that no one had anywhere to go. Everyone felt lost, everyone is still feeling shocked.
“Nobody can quite come to terms with the fact that he’s not with us any more.”
He spoke of how Paul had brought people together, and said his character and the love people felt for him were a testament to his mother, Jackie, whom Paul adored.
“The industry we work in has some bitterness and some jealousies, but Paul rose far, far above that,” he said. “In the many years and times we’ve spent with him he taught us the way,
what is right and wrong. He was a mother, father, a brother and sister to everyone in this room in some way.
“He always knew what fragrance you were wearing, and he always knew if you were struggling, even if you didn’t quite know it yourself.”
Colleagues at The Botanist spoke of how Paul not only had helped to make the bar a success, but had “brought a city and an industry together”.
Botanist general manager Andrew Shiel-Redfern said: “We will try to continue in your memory but without a doubt we have lost our shining light.” A member of Paul’s family told his gathered friends that while they would never get over the loss of Paul, the affection the city had for him had provided them with some comfort.
He said: “The loss of Paul is immense, but Jackie and the rest of us have realised that we are part of a bigger family, Burnsy’s family.
“You have shown us so much love, so now you are our family.”