Remembering Jamie Rees - the story behind the OurJay Foundation
A cheeky boy with a beaming smile and big brown eyes.
Clever, funny, and never sad.
Jamie - Jay, JJ, OurJay - was born on 25 November 2003. A keen fisherman from age two, an all-night gamer, a top-of-class trainee plumber. Shy in the cutest way. The brightest star in life and now the brightest star in any sky.
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A fisherman from age 2
He'd be at the lake with his rod set and a dog beside him. Always caught the biggest fish, but he was proud of every single catch - no matter how big or small.
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Gamer, headset on, all night
PS5 with his mates for hours, sometimes all night if a game really got him gripped. The kind of friend you'd hear laughing through the wall.
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Star Wars fan; Idris Elba devotee
Watched the films over and over again. Idris Elba was a favourite actor of his - so much so that his bearded dragon Luther was named after Elba's TV character.
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Top of his plumbing class at Rugby College
Completed years 1 and 2 of his City & Guilds in plumbing, passed every exam with top grades, and planned to set up his own business with his mates. The college keeps a permanent display of his practical work in the workshop, in his memory.
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Knew his planets and his moons
Get him into a conversation about space or the solar system and he'd be chattering away for hours. Curious about everything that was bigger than the room he was in.
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Izzy, Castro and his 'little best mate' Luther
His old dog Izzy. His Toy Yorkie Castro, who sat on the windowsill every Monday and Tuesday waiting for him to come home from college. And Luther, his bearded dragon and best mate - all three would lay on his bed for hours while he played PS5.
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Shy in the cutest way
His college tutor put it best: 'he didn't always have a lot to say, but when he spoke, people just listened. He always had something funny or relevant to say - people took notice of that boy.'
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Brother first, family always
Jamie's biggest inspiration was his big brother Callum. He'd dress like him, talk like him, ask his opinion on absolutely anything. He adored his mum and dad, treasured both nans over tea and toast, and shared a very special bond with his little sister Myla.
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'Built different'
He always told us he was built different. Every word we've heard about him since says the same thing - amazing, caring, beautiful boy. The brightest star in life, now the brightest star in any sky.
"In my mind, it's Jamie Rees BEM and I'm his name and voice."