‘He always had a big smile’: Touching tributes paid to adored Chesterfield man who has died aged 44

Those are the heartfelt words of Kimberley Greaves, whose beloved husband Andrew has died aged just 44 – three-and-a-half years after he was diagnosed with cancer.

MORE: The latest on coronavirus at Chesterfield Royal Hospital

Father-of-two Andrew, of Herriot Drive, Chesterfield, lived in the area all of his life. He was incredibly popular.

“I met Andrew on his 18th birthday when I was 17,” Kimberley recalled to the Derbyshire Times.

“We met in Chesterfield’s Xanadu nightclub and I later used to tease him about how he tried to kiss me and I turned away.

“It wasn’t until a couple of months later that we actually got together.

“I was there from the day he turned 18 until the moment he took his last breath aged 44.

“He always looked older than his years and back then he stood out because he was always so smartly dressed and he always wore a big smile.

“His smile is something that everybody comments on.

“My brother recalls how on the first time he met him they were sat in my parents’ living room and he just kept smiling at him and was very easy to talk to.

“Since Andrew passed away, more and more tell me what a great smile he had.”

‘He was very likeable’

Andrew and Kimberley married on June 4, 2005, and went on to have a daughter, Caileigh, in 2008.

“When we found out we were expecting a girl I remember Andrew saying how he could not stop thinking of walking her down the aisle one day,” said Kimberley.

In 2013, the couple’s son Jayden was born and their family was complete.

Over the years Andrew worked in many different areas of the building trade.

For the last seven-and-a-half years he was a roofer for Compton Spares – work which took him all over the country.

In his spare time he installed greenhouses locally.

Kimberley described Andrew as ‘always a hard worker and a real grafter’ who was ‘never afraid to put in the long hours or the physical work’.

In October 2017, the family’s world was turned upside down when Andrew received a diagnosis for bladder cancer.

Kimberley said: “To look at Andrew you wouldn’t have known he was poorly.

“This is something people have always said about him.

“Most people knew he’d had cancer at some point but they weren’t aware of the ongoing battles he had with the disease over the course of three-and-a-half years.

“He continued to go to work as he was still very fit and able.

“We continued to go on holidays, have trips out with the kids and meet up with friends on nights out – because he never felt ill.

“It wasn’t until December 2020 that he really started to get ill.

“At 9.40pm on March 26, Andrew took his last breath and I was sat right beside him.

“After Andrew died, a friend said to me ‘I don’t think Andrew ever realised just how popular he was’.

“Andrew never really cared about being popular, he was just a genuine person who always had time for others.

“He was very likeable.”

Andrew ‘will continue to live in the hearts of others’

Andrew enjoyed spending time with family and friends, and liked going to the pubs in Brampton.

He had a keen interest in sports and enjoyed watching football, cricket, darts and many more.

In his younger days Andrew enjoyed playing football.

At one time he held a season ticket for Manchester United and enjoyed going to games with Kimberley.

More recently Andrew was a season ticket holder for Chesterfield FC and would take Jayden to matches.

He enjoyed popular music and had a great knowledge of music and artists through the decades.

Andrew also liked family holidays, meals out, cinema and TV.

He was a proud dad and loved watching Caileigh dance and Jayden play football.

Andrew passed away at Ashgate Hospicecare.

Kimberley said: “Someone mentioned to me in the hospice about the rippling effect that some people leave behind following their death.

“Your body may die but the ripple effect will live on.

“I believe this to be the case with Andrew.

“He was a genuinely good man who will continue to live in the hearts of others.

“He never sought popularity but he was popular because he was genuine and always had time for other people.

“He was easy to talk to and very generous with his time.

“He always had a big smile, the sort of smile people never forget.”

People of Chesterfield have taken to social media to pay tribute to Andrew and offer their condolences to his loved ones.

One woman said he was ‘such a lovely chap’ who will be ‘so very missed’.

A man commented: “RIP mate. You were an absolute gentleman and a great dad and husband. Everyone who knew you will miss you.”

Others described Andrew as a ‘lovely bloke’ who was ‘taken far too soon’.

There were also references to ‘that lovely smile’ of Andrew’s.

Andrew leaves behind Kimberley and Caileigh and Jayden.

He also leaves behind his mum Angela, sisters Joanne and Janine. Andrew was pre-deceased by his father, Malcolm.

A private family funeral will take place at Brimington Crematorium on Thursday.

People who would like to view the service can visit www.wesleymedia.co.uk/webcast-view – the login is 88710 and the password is rjjyyuts

MORE: Derbyshire mental health helpline receives nearly 20,000 calls in first year

A message from Phil Bramley, Derbyshire Times editor

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription at www.localsubsplus.co.uk or buying a paper.