Tributes to ‘top bloke’ Steve “Bubba” Miller

Steve “Bubba” Miller, who is believed to have been homeless, was named by the public and his friends online after the police announced a body had been discovered in a derelict outbuilding at Silverwood Miners’ Welfare Resource Centre in Dalton on Thursday, Jan 19.

Mr Miller (49), who was said to be well-known in the community, was described as a “gentle giant” in one tribute on Facebook.

Social media user Christina Cass said: “(He) was an amazing man, he was a nice, polite man and he’s going to be missed by everyone.”

Others also described him as a “top bloke”, a “great kid” and a “f*****g legend”.

Street kitchen organiser Jay Crean said Mr Miller — whom she said had changed his name by deed poll from Steve Simpson — had been a long-time volunteer alongside her and helped her push the council to get a former fire station in Wath opened as a shelter for the homeless.

“He was a lovely guy, a gentle giant, he would do anything for anyone and nothing was too much trouble for him,” she said.

“He was just grateful for people’s company and always wore a big smile.”

Friends have set up a fundraising page to help with the cost of the funeral, with the total currently at £1,500.

In the GoFundMe post, appeal organiser Shannon Inwood said Mr Miller had been “a lovely person”.

She added: “We’re all truly heartbroken.

“We need to give him the best send-off, and with all of your help I’m sure we can all do just that.”

A police spokesperson said they had been called at about 10.35am last Thursday to reports that the body of a man had been found inside the community centre.

They said at that stage the death was being treated as unexplained and investigations were continuing.

Anyone with information should call 101 or report via the online police portal quoting incident number 274 of January 19.

You can chip in to fund Mr Miller’s funeral by visiting https://tinyurl.com/bubbafuneral.