Ricky Stephen Long

Ricky Long who died on the 7th april 2007 aged 21.

Ricky was a welder by trade but also done tyre fitting.

Rickys last address was 96 Oxlow Lane Dagenham Essex but had also lived at West Crescent Canvey
Island and prior to this at Crescent Road Dagenham all in essex.

Ricky left behind a large family of 1 sister Claire Long 2 brothers Scott and Stephen Sone mother
Linda Dolling father Peter Long and niece's and nephews.

Ricky Long died in a house fire at his home address 96 Oxlow lane Dagenham Essex.

Ricky was a very clever boy in the way of he could achive anything that he put his mind too. These
things included circuit work, mechanical repairs and general odd jobs.

Ricky although he never knew, was a much loved individual who was extremely witty and funny only he
could make you laugh all day long and give you face ache.
He was also at times a pain in the rear end. Especialy with his have you gots and can I borrows. But
he was loved all the same unconditionaly.

Dear Ricky,
You were with us the night of the fire at my home and I did try to convince you to stay the night
but you was too hungry and wanted to go home for something to eat. Maybe if i'd of cooked for you
when you asked you would of stayed and not gone home and turned your grill on. I'll never forget the
morning of the day you died. Police knocked and told me and our brother steve what had happened to
you. Those exact words still sound in my head "we regret to inform you that there was a fire at your
brothers home address 96 oxlow lane in which he never managed to escape" Those words are still the
basis for my nightmares. I asked the officers if they had told mum and thats when I found out that I
was the first to know and had to tell mum and our family.

Mum was the first person I told. She went barmy she was hysterical. All I could her was her pounding
the phone I'm not sure what she was doing but I could feel her pain. Steve went straight round to
her. No one expects to have to bury there children and too have to bury our youngest was the last
thing any of us thought we would have to do. The police were good and even went to get everybody
(mum,Scott, Julie etc.) Once we were all together we just couldn't get our heads round what had
happened. We decided to go to your home and lay flowers. When we arrived to lay the flowers we were
let through a police cordon. That is when we discovered at nearly two in the afternoon that you was
still laying upstairs in your room. Steve started shouting "Get him out before I do! You cant leave
him there where's your respect!" A Fire investigator Ian Atkinson was there and tried to explain
that they couldn't move you till the coroner arrived as there was no where to put you. Steve calmed
down and eventualy broke down into Ian's arms.

Ian was the one who told us when asked, that you did wake up and may of tried to get out but because
the fire had been burning so long you just fainted and fell to sleep. Your friend Jason who lived in
the room below you heard o loud bang (which was probably your windows blowing out) and went to
investigate to discover the fire. He managed to get everyone out the house but you had locked your
door behind you and as hard as Jay kicked couldn't open the door to get you out. I can only imagine
how hard it was for him to know that he couldn't do anything and for that he constantly punished
himself. Although myself and the family were very grateful.

Just then the coroner arrived to collect you and we was asked if we wanted to leave whilst you were
being moved. We all looked at eachother and decided "together we stand, together we will fall" so we
stood all holding eachother and watched as you were carried out. You had full thickness burns and
therefore they could not lay you in the coffin properly so they had a sheet across you. It was awful
but we did it out of respect for you "blood". We all walked around at my house for days in
autopilot. No one knowing what to say or do. Just lost.

We didn't have a last chance to see you at the undertakers. Because of your burns we were just
presented with a box. We didn't even have anything that we could hold, feel touch and smell because
it had all been lost in the fire. Scott, Steve and myself arranged your funeral with a little help
from mum. We decided that because of your love for bright colours we would all wear brite orange for
the funeral day.

Everyone who attended wore either orange or had orange ribbon on. The flowers were also orange
mainly or with orange edging on them. We even choose luminous orange for the lining of your coffin.
The funeral left from my house cause thats where you always was. It was very respecful and if only
you could see the people that packed out my road to watch you leave youd know just how much you were
loved. The funeral went well untill they asked us to leave and I couldn't do it. I'd been everywhere
with you. Now I'd come here and was just going to leave you at the crem. It felt awful I think it
was the first time I actualy broke down.

Lots of our relations came back again like dad, Uncle Rich and Jay. And all was gutted that they had
missed out on such a wonderful person as you.
It has absolutely wrecked me reliving these moments as to put them on here for you. But unlike you
I'll live to see another day. It's been just over a year now and the pain is meant to get easier.
For me it dosen't. I just want you back.

Loving you always
Sis xxx

Ricky was my little brother, the youngest of four of us. And I thank the lord that I was blessed to
have known him for the time that I did. He was my best friend, my soulmate and my confident. He
would always listen to my troubles and offer advice to the best of his capabilities. Ricky was an
extension of my own self and without him I am eternaly lost. He was forever by my side and without
him there is just empty space Ricky was the best friend anybody could have although he kept himself
quite private at times. He could also be the most outgoing party animal you ever saw and if there
was a party and a beer he would be there. Myself and all that was close to Ricky have loads of good
memories of Ricky that will live on in our hearts and tales forever more!!!!!

In the process of adding music.... Metallica nothing else matters.... song will play as you enter
this page!!!! so keep checking this page x