Our story begins at 4.45am on Monday 20th March 2000 because that is the moment when the mould was broken and Connor Brown entered this world; a beautiful son for Mam, Tanya: although Aunty Karen in fact, was the first person to look at him.

And so, Connor’s earliest days were going to be eventful. His Mam and Dad’s bank balance were going to take a real battering because from being just a few weeks old, he got a taste for food! A taste which of course never left him. But it wasn’t just Mam and Dad that would find that. Aunty Jean and Uncle Mick would see that every weekend! Connor was never away from theirs! His second home! Bronson the dog was trained to watch him! Mind you, Connor himself would soon be watching, looking out for Ellen, his little sister, who Connor never argued with…allegedly! He was too busy to argue with her though. Too busy watching Home Alone on repeat! He could reel off the full script and do all the characters by the age of 10! Even locals called Harry were called ‘Hairy.’  

No hairy moments around for Connor yet though. Tom and Jerry moment yes, not hairy. Tom and Jerry of course were right up on his watch list, to the point where he would chuckle in his sleep if he’d been watching them before going to bed!

Actually, I’ve just told a lie. There were hairy moments. A few of them. Namely, when spiders were about! Connor was petrified of them! He trashed the bathroom one day because ‘there was a geet big one in there!’ Mam and Dad didn’t help mind, sticking plastic ones in his room! Lots of fun though, and that would be the key throughout. Certainly when Connor went to Richard Avenue Nursery, then New Silksworth Infants and East Herrington Primary, because, the mates he made back then would be mates for life, ‘Bezzy Marras’ still today. Like Leon, bezzy marra, with Connor through thick and thin…as thick as thieves ‘an all!

Same at Farra Comp, where Connor got into good routines. PE, of course, was a specialist subject. While academically, he was fairly gifted. Homework done on time, work done nicely. He was a good scholar, who even wanted to stay at school forever. Wanted to become a PE teacher but, then changed his mind when he realised the studies involved!

Seriously though, he was a hard worker and, found a love of money from as young as 13. Paper round was done to earn a few quid. Money in his pocket was just the ticket and, he was doing it the right way. You work for what you get. Something his Mam and Dad instilled into him from Day 1. Alongside good manners and the ability to behave himself. To not venture past the corner or off the field when playing out near home. Cos, Connor was out and about. Playing his football. Pretending to be his heroes from the Stadium of Light. Kicking about at Goals as well was class. Before playing for Farringdon, Humbledon and Seaburn later on, was a real delight. Remember, he’d had his first Sunderland strip on at 3-months old!

Football first then, but, it wouldn’t be too long before one or two other items took his fancy. Namely, Jiu-Jitsu and then of course, boxing. Heading to the gym at Plains Farm would become second nature to the lad. The money he earned off his papers allowed him to buy his vest and what have you. So, little Connor had started to flourish and, he wouldn’t be little Connor for too long. But a few things would remain. The desire to look good for a start! A bit of vanity never did anyone any harm and, a golden tan would just boost the look.

So sun-worshipper Connor never failed on that score. Posing in or around the pool on holiday was part of the plan. Shades on. Lush! Except if his face was splashed! Towel at the ready then! Mind you, he did swim in the pool at the caravan in Cleethorpes and in Sangouli Park or, Ging Gang Goolie Park in Salou, a place Connor adored. Gutted when he had to go to Benidorm instead that time. It wasn’t Aunty Jean or Uncle Mick’s fault though. They weren’t to know he’d be that gutted. It didn’t last long though because Jean and Mick had him all over! Their kids were left at home while Connor sunned himself! And fed, and fed. Hell on when the waiter took his plate away in the restaurant. Hadn’t finished had he?! Soon filled another plate though. All-inclusive was perfect. Life was for living, and Connor was living it well. As he ventured onto the next phase of matters. Namely, his new career.

Having closed his school books for the final time, he was soon heading to a workplace where he would have the whole team wrapped around his little finger. The team at Happy House Doctor’s Surgery! Who adopted Nana Gillian! A team though, who adored him…and I’m not surprised. Connor’s technology skills, people skills, allied with a sense of humour, allowed him to very quickly make his mark, and have the patients in the palm of his hand. They loved him! The elderly thought he was mint. Well, he would do owt for them.

And the infectious nature of him, the fact he lit rooms up with that smile and persona made Happy House a ‘happy house.’ Connor was still the main one. He called himself that using his Leaver’s Hoodie from Farra Comp and now, he was the main one elsewhere. Even when he was knackered he smiled. And he was knackered from time to time! Cos, he could burn the candle at both ends so, would need a chance to recharge his batteries…and would be granted time of work of a morning to do it! Wrapped around his little finger remember!

Yes, he liked going out. But it wasn’t that which had him tired. The boxing would start to become a more integral part of his life. Although, it wasn’t all plain sailing. His first fight at 16 saw Tanya hiding! Couldn’t watch! Connor lost, and lost again, but he had good advisors. Dad, Uncle Des, Granda Brian his coaches and, their advice worked because fight number three and that was it. The wins came. Granda Brian was so proud. Connor now of course, the Dolly Champ forever! And Granda Brian’s name woven into his shorts.

Thankfully the wins did start to come mind. Otherwise, those gorgeous teeth might have got a hammering! The teeth Connor treasured! Aw he looked good. Dapper. Good hairdryer, good Orthodontist, good shoes, £106 t-shirt! £106! He looked a million dollars. Except at home. What a sight he was in the street in that dressing gown, pulled up socks and sliders. What a clip! A clip he was when helping that lad whose car was stuck in the snow out the front at home. Poor lad ended up face planted an all! I’m sure his Mam would’ve given him a cuddle. One of the many cuddles Tanya gave him when he was hungover! Stroking his hair. Poor Dad doing all the running around! Like he did the night before as well. Simon being asked to iron his clothes before he went out! Poor Simon was half-cut already! Not a minutes’ peace!

Mind you, no peace for Tanya anyway, who dreaded Connor going to the match on his own! Home and away. He had to text her all the time.

“I’m staying at such and such’s, night night, love you” and that was it. Wembley was class though. Life was class. Because Connor was grabbing it with both hands. Like he was grabbing the steering wheel with both. Cos as soon as he turned 17, the driving lessons began. More expense!

On top of the dreadfully high levels of board money his Mam and Dad insisted he paid! The lad was fuming! Buzzing getting his first pay packet, gutted to lose some of it.

“What do I get for me money?” was the first thing he asked.

So, the lessons began. Connor drove Uncle Chris’ car…Tanya was petrified! But it didn’t stop the lad passing his test the second time around. So he could hit the roads properly. In the car he’d bought beforehand. The banger with no insurance! The banger which cost more to put right that the car was worth! Thankfully, Nana Gillian was on hand to help him out.

“Nana, have you got a lend of some money? I’ll pay you back.” Well, he did pay his way you know. And, he was able to get his pride and joy. The red Fiesta. Lush. Connor was enjoying the fruits of his labours…and I say fruits of his labours because he worked hard for it all. Because he was still making such an impact at work. He was ‘Our Connor.’ Friends, cousins, you name it. It was ‘Our Connor.’

Our Connor in Majorca with Mam, Dad and Ellen. Our Connor in Malta when Jean and Mick took him for his 18th. He was still sleeping next to his Aunty Jean at 16 you know! And, he was our Connor in Tenerife when he was the youngest on tour. And lit up the lads’ holiday. The entertainer, who tried to keep up with the big boys though! And had the odd dodgy pint! While having to check in with Mam again every day! Yous were looking out for him though. Like Aunty Kayleigh did on Derby Day. When she offered him a lift to save him getting the bus, but then, Connor looked out for his mates…and had 15 of them waiting for the same lift at the bus stop! Few journeys there then!

So still, there was never a dull moment around him. Same back home. On his PlayStation you could hear him online! In his red and white room. Messy, but cleaned if someone was visiting! Vain you see. And you could hear him in the shower too. When that speaker blasted as well! Music pumping. Like it pumped at his Dad’s discos, when the Macarena was never missed!

Mind, food was still never missed either. Because the bait at home was what he got for his board money! And more when he left the bloody fridge open and ruined loads! But man, bacon sarnies, cakes and custard creams at work. Non-stop grub. McDonalds 20 chicken nugget share boxes were just starters! While a pint and bait with Dad around the pool on holiday was the starter out there. Good times, which continued to roll. Connor’s script was still being written.

Until the events of recent times, which hit you all like a steam train. Rocking you to your core. Events which now leave us here today, when we really shouldn’t be and, when we really wish we weren’t, trying to make sense of it all; asking why, why such a lovely young lad with so much life still to live, can be taken away from us? And we wonder. We wonder what might have come his way. What twists and turns, stories and dreams.

Today though, despite the pain, we celebrate Connor. The lover of life. The lovely lad with that sparkling smile and the twinkle in his eye. And we remember those happier days and the sunshine and the abundant joy he brought to so many lives. Lives which were all the better for having been touched by his. After all, he has woven an indelible mark into the very fabric of all of your lives.

We celebrate a lad so very much loved, who now quite clearly, is so much missed.