New road unveiled in memory of Oadby lad Jamie
An Oadby man whose life was cut tragically short by cancer has been honoured at a Bloor Homes' new housing development Cottage Farm, in his home town Oadby.
The main access road through Bloor Homes’ Cottage Farm development off Glen Road has been named Jamie Marcus Way in memory of the former Beauchamp College pupil, who died in 2012 aged just 21.
The street signs bearing Jamie’s name were officially unveiled at a ceremony hosted by Bloor Homes on Saturday 23rd March, which was attended by Jamie’s parents Paul and Mairi, and his sister Emma.
Oadby and Wigston Borough Council officially approved the naming of the road in Jamie’s honour in April last year following a request from his family, who described him as “an Oadby lad, through and through.”
It will provide a lasting commemoration to the outstanding contribution made by Jamie to the community of Oadby during his short life.
Born at Leicester General Hospital on Christmas Day 1990, Jamie attended Launde Primary, Manor High School and Beauchamp College, before going on to study Criminology at Sheffield Hallam University.
He was involved with the Oadby Beavers and Cubs, was a paper boy for Mercury News, played rugby for Oadby Wyggs and cricket for The Wheel Inn, where he also worked behind the bar.
Jamie’s dad Paul said: “To have a street named after Jamie in Oadby means more to us than words can express. We all loved him very much and our lives will never be the same again without him. Throughout his illness he always tried to be positive and his personality, sense of humour and fun shone out.
“One of the hardest things we had to come to terms with following his death was that Jamie would have no legacy, as he had no children. Through Jamie Marcus Way his name will live on forever and that is of great comfort to us as a family.
“Seeing the signs bearing Jamie’s name for the first time was very emotional and we’re grateful to Bloor Homes for hosting this ceremony to officially mark the naming of the road in his memory.”
Bloor Homes, which is building 150 homes at the Cottage Farm development, presented Jamie’s family with a replica road sign, which now hangs proudly on the wall of Paul’s study at home.
Michele Rose, Regional Sales Director at Bloor Homes Midlands, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Paul, Mairi and Emma to Cottage Farm for the official unveiling of Jamie Marcus Way.
“We believe it is important that our developments are part of the local communities in which they are built, and we are proud that the contribution Jamie made to the community in Oadby is being commemorated by the naming of this road at Cottage Farm.”
Jamie’s family is planning to set up a charity, called Jamie’s Way, with the aim of ensuring every new housing development in the country has at least one street named in honour of a local person who died young, but leaves no tangible legacy as they had no children, and also played a significant part in their community.