TOWNHILL: ‘One of the kindest’ — Big Issue seller Liam Harmer named as man who died in Elphin Gardens flat fire

The man who died in a flat fire in Townhill last week has been named as Liam Harmer — a Big Issue seller who spent more than 15 years becoming one of Sketty’s most familiar faces.

Mr Harmer, 51, died at his first-floor flat in Elphin Gardens on Tuesday 14 July. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

South Wales Police said there were no suspicious circumstances, and had initially appealed for help tracing his next of kin.

The coroner has since confirmed his identity, according to the Big Issue, which has led tributes to one of its longest-serving Welsh vendors.

Mr Harmer sold the magazine on and off for more than 15 years, and his pitch in Sketty made him a fixture of the suburb — with many of his regular customers becoming friends.

Tom Watts, the Big Issue’s sales and operations manager in Wales, knew Mr Harmer for over a decade, having first met him in the magazine’s Swansea office.

“He was one of the kindest vendors I ever met,” Mr Watts said.

He said he could not recall anyone ever having a bad word to say about him, and that he would be sadly missed by friends, customers and everyone who knew him.

Mr Watts said selling the magazine could be an incredibly tough way to make a living, and that the pressures vendors face can strain lives and relationships — but that Mr Harmer had remained unfailingly pleasant and gentle throughout.

The pair shared a love of science fiction, and Mr Watts recalled long phone conversations about the novels of Arthur C. Clarke — with Mr Harmer often ringing the office simply for a chat.

Mr Harmer told his own story in the magazine’s My Pitch section in 2020, crediting his years of selling with helping him through anxiety and depression.

He described how the walk to his pitch each morning lifted his spirits, and how the first sale of the day made him happier and more talkative — saying the routine of getting out, meeting people and chatting had helped him recover.

He also spoke at the time about reconnecting with his family, and about the comfort he found in reading.

Crews from the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service attended the fire alongside police last Tuesday afternoon.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, the Samaritans can be contacted free, day or night, on 116 123.