Last week, a close friend and caretaker of Steve Bronski, the co-founder of 1980s pop group Bronski Beat, informed me that he had perished in a fire at his residence in central London.
On Thursday, when fellow member Jimmy Somerville tweeted that he was “disappointed” to hear of Steve Bronski’s death, calling him “talented and a great melodic guy,” the news of his death became public.
His death has not been officially attributed, and his agent claimed that he was unaware of any additional details about it. Josephine Samuel, who had looked after Bronski following a stroke, said he resided in a third-floor flat on Berwick Street that was destroyed by a devastating fire on Tuesday.
Samuel said she had gone to Bronski’s home the day before the fire and returned to lay flowers at his site, as reported by The Guardian. “Because he had a stroke, getting up was difficult for him. He died of smoke inhalation as a result of the fire.”
The flat entrance has been filled with cards, flowers, and photographs of Bronski and other members of the band. Two of the cards, which were left by Samuel and addressed to Josephine, read: “Dear Josephine My heartfelt sympathies on your terrible loss. Steve began the beat and it will never cease. Bronski Beat for all time. With warmest best wishes and deepest compassion, a Small Town Boy. xxx”
“He was a beautiful person,” Samuel, a gospel singer aged 51, recalled. “I recall him as being kind, quiet, and talented in music. I was referenced in some of his songs but never released.
“I took care of him during his difficult time – he had a stroke about three years ago. I guided him through depression. He regarded me as a sister, and I regarded him as an older brother. We were quite close.”
“I knew him for 16 years,” Samuel declared. “When I visited him the day before he died, it was like a nightmare to me because I’d been by his side for so long. We’ll have to wait until his body is flown to Scotland for burial before we can register his death.”
On Tuesday, firefighters wearing breathing equipment were able to rescue a person from a first-floor apartment at the scene. According to a representative for London Fire Brigade, he passed away in the hospital later, but she would not disclose his name. The Metropolitan Police Department said that as the fire was labeled “non-suspicious,” it could not reveal who died in the inferno.
A colleague in another building who works as an office manager said he phoned the fire department when he noticed smoke emanate from the apartment. He added: “Fire engines and ambulances arrived soon after, and we were relocated to the end of the road.”
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