Family pays tribute to lost brother

AS identical twins they did everything together often being mistaken for one another, but today Dean Barker is preparing to say goodbye to his brother and best friend.

Wayne Barker died on Saturday, August 22 after collapsing during a pre-season friendly football match at Ufford Recreation ground.

As his devastated family struggle to come to terms with their loss they are still waiting to find out what caused Wayne's premature death at just 35 years old.

The father-of-two went into cardiac arrest on the pitch and was taken to Ipswich Hospital where he later died. His father Roy Barker said he had an enlarged heart but tests to establish his cause of death have so far proved inconclusive.

As tributes continue to flood the scene of his death his twin brother Dean said he will miss him every single day, in everything he does.

“We have always done everything together, football, cricket, school, everything,” he said. “It was a terrible shock, the first three or four days after it happened were terrible.

“I am going to miss him every day, we did everything together.”

He said his brother was always the more outgoing of the pair, a party animal and wonderful father.

“He was a big kid, I will really miss being round at mum and dad's mucking around in their swimming pool with all our kids,” he added.

“I will miss his infectious laugh and having that closeness with someone, we were twins we could just look at each other and know what the other was thinking.

“There were so many sides to Wayne, he was a family man, a party animal, he never let anyone down.

“He was just brilliant, a very special brother.”

The family are today preparing for Wayne's funeral next Wednesday at Saxmundham Parish Church at 11am. His family have asked that people make donations payable to Tony Brown's charity account, distributed to local charities rather than bring flowers. Donations can be made to Tony Brown's Funeral Service, Saxmundham, IP17 1EH.