An inquest into the death of Wayne Brown, the former chief of West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority, will commence next March without a jury. The 54-year-old was found dead at his home in January 2024 amid allegations that he had falsified his qualifications and claimed to have played for Charlton Athletic to secure his £180,000-a-year job.
The inquest, to be held at Birmingham Coroner’s Court, will include a pen portrait tribute to Mr. Brown, according to a pre-inquest review attended by three family members in person and others via video link.
Police have confirmed that they are not treating Mr. Brown’s death as suspicious. He was found dead on January 24, shortly after allegations about his credentials came to light.
Submissions from barristers representing the fire service and West Midlands Police were heard, along with a lawyer representing a man facing criminal proceedings for alleged harassment of Mr Brown.
Allegations and Investigations
Mr Brown was accused of lying about having a master’s degree and playing professional football for Charlton Athletic. These claims surfaced shortly before his death, leading to an investigation by the West Midlands Fire Service. The investigation found no record of his degree at London South Bank University, which Mr Brown had listed on his LinkedIn profile, and it was revealed he only participated in Charlton Athletic’s youth training scheme, not in the professional division.
Tributes and Final Farewell
Mr. Brown’s passing was met with widespread mourning within the firefighting community. Firefighters from across the UK gathered in March to bid a final farewell to their colleague. A tribute video posted by the West Midlands Fire Service depicted firefighters and staff standing solemnly outside the station and fire trucks.
The video included a heartfelt voice-over: “You could connect, and be relatable to everyone. You always had time for people. You embodied people, professionalism, and pride, which will forever be synonymous with you in our service. You were a true inspiration. Absolutely one of a kind. The world was a better place with you in it. You will never be forgotten.”
Family Statements
Mr Brown’s family has expressed their deep sorrow. A statement from his family read: “Our Beloved Wayne, our lives go on without you, but nothing is the same. We have to hide our heartache when someone speaks our name. Sad are the hearts that love you. Silent are the tears that fall. Living without you is the hardest part of all. You did so many things for us. Your heart was so kind and when we needed someone, we could always count on you. The special years will not return when we are all together. But with the love in our hearts, you walk with us forever.”
His son, Kai, also shared a poignant letter: “Dad, words can’t describe how hard this is and how much pain I’m feeling. I love you and miss you so much already. From teaching me how to ride a bike, play football to driving a car, you’ve always been there for me. This is deeper than anything and I want to live your legacy on, as you were a pure inspiration to me and everyone in the world, and I will make you proud, I promise. You worked so hard for everything and I have always and will always look up to you.
A Respected Career
Mr Brown was a part of the London Fire Brigade for 27 years before joining the West Midlands service in 2019. He had attended some of the UK’s most significant operational incidents, including the London terrorist attacks and the devastating Grenfell Tower fire.
West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority confirmed Mr Brown’s death in January, stating: “Our thoughts go out to Wayne’s family and friends at this difficult time.
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