Colchester brother raising sibling after parents die 12 months apart

Conar Sycamore, 29, was even asleep in the same room as his mother when she passed away suddenly in her sleep - just weeks before her partner planned to propose.

Clara Sycamore, 50, and her long-term partner, Colin Flatman, 51, both died suddenly from unrelated illness within 12 months of each other.

Clara’s oldest son, Conar has bravely stepped up from ‘fun brother’ into a fatherly role as he attempts to bring up his younger sibling, Mason Flatman, single-handed.

The half-brothers, who shared mum, Clara, are now trying to navigate a life without their much-loved parents.

Conar, who was a head chef, said: "I can never replace Mason’s amazing dad, but I have to try and do all the things that he would have done.

"I’m still his big brother but now I’m the one raising him.

''I gave up my job pretty much as soon as I heard about what had happened to Colin, I knew I wouldn't be able to do look after Mason and work those mad hours.

''Things are going to be really different now, I've got proper responsibilities.

''I was always fairly responsible before but this is another level.

''I'm looking at getting back into being a tree surgeon, something I'm already qualified in, as the hours perfectly fit in with Mason's school day.”

Read more >> Donations pour in for boy, 7, after parents die just 12 months apart

The family's ordeal began in March 20 2020 when Conar woke to find step-dad, Colin trying to revive mum, Clara, who had fallen asleep on the living room sofa.

Despite his best efforts, Clara was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics just minutes later.

Conar said: “'It took me a while to get over the feeling of guilt that I could have done something, as I was on the airbed in the living room that night.

''I hated myself that I didn't wake up to help her.

''But we were told she wouldn't have been in pain which was some comfort.

''It was pretty harrowing waking up to that, but even then I knew I just had to focus on my little brother, making sure he was out of the room and distracted so he didn't have to see his mum like that.”

Disaster struck for a second time for the family when Colin suffered a brain aneurysm at work on April 23.

As his condition deteriorated he was transferred to a specialist team at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, but after suffering another haemorrhage and a stroke medics decided nothing could be done.

Conar said: ''When I heard that Colin was in hospital my first thought was to make sure Mason would be OK.

''I made sure I was there in time to pick up him from school and take him home as normal, so he wasn't out of his routine.

''Telling Mason that his 'dad' had died too was one of the worst, hardest moments of my life.

''Mason couldn't understand why his dad had left, he said: 'Daddy promised he would never leave me like mummy, why did I let them leave?'

''It broke my heart.''

Conar has thanked Mason’s school Hazelmere Infant School, in Colchester, for offering the best support it can for Mason.

As a way of helping the brothers through this painful time in their lives Steven Turnbull, the school’s headteacher, decided to launch a fundraising page for them.

It has now raised more than £6,000.

Conar said: ''The headmaster started a Go Fund Me page so that Mason and I could go for a day out at the zoo but the fundraising as surpassed all expectations.

“We’re going to start a savings account for him which he can do nice things with, but it'll also help a lot with paying for stuff he needs over the next few years.''

To find out more or donate, visit bit.ly/3wie1fX.