Permanent tribute at Stockton Mobility Centre for much-loved Stockton man Keith Hayes

A permanent tribute has been paid to a popular Stockton man who “loved to socialise”.

Keith Hayes passed away last month aged 65 after complications with diabetes.

He was a well-known figure around the shops of Stockton town centre, and in particular inside the Stockton Mobility Centre on Bridge Road, where he was “a good friend as well as customer” to the staff, after he began using the service following the loss of his leg to his condition around seven years ago.

Now the staff, led by manager Daniel Barwick, of Thornaby, have installed a touching memorial to Keith, in the form of a plaque bearing his name and picture, along with the words “Volunteer and customer. Will be sadly missed. R.I.P.”

Although Daniel was planning to pay for the tribute from his own pocket, all staff insisted on contributing to the cost as a way of remembering Keith, who helped with voluntary duties in the shop as well as chatting to other customers.

Keith’s ex-wife Alison Hayes, who had become very close to Keith again since he helped her through the loss of her long-term partner Michael two years ago, was invited to the unveiling of the plaque along with the couple’s son Andrew, 31.

Plaque unveiled at Shopmobility, Stockton, in memory of Keith Hayes

Alison, 58, of Fairfield, said: “Keith passed away very suddenly. It was a big shock to us all because he wasn’t expected to die.

“He’d been in hospital after getting an abscess on his hand.

“Keith was really there for me after Michael died and we became very close again. I never fell out of love with him really - we were married for 17 years but we’d got married quite young.

“He was such a lovely man.

“I just can’t thank the staff enough for the plaque. Keith would have been really chuffed. It’s such a lovely thing to do and a great way to remember him.

“This shop and the people in it were such a big part of his life.”

Keith worked as a book binder for many years after leaving school, then went on to work for Stockton Council’s grounds department after being made redundant in the late ‘90s.

Plaque unveiled at Shopmobility, Stockton, in memory of Keith Hayes

Son Andrew, who lived with and cared for his dad in recent years, said: “He enjoyed that job very much. Unfortunately it was there that his problems started really - he injured the bottom of his foot on a piece of wood and kept getting infections. He ended up having the leg removed, and actually got a lot of his mobility back after that.

“I can’t stress enough how sociable he was - he was compulsively social. He had to get out of the house every day.

“There was a core to him that was very loving and friendly, and he was very generous.

“The plaque is indicative of how strong the feeling towards him was.”

Keith was also close to his auntie Audrey and her family.

Shop manager Daniel added: “Keith meant a lot to me, as well as being a customer. He was a good friend.”