Tributes have flooded in for a renowned Newcastle retailer who always had a smile on his face.
Peter Harker was at the heart of the region's retail sector owning businesses such as Plus Four, The Uncollected Dry Cleaning Company and Quickstitch.
He was well-known in Newcastle for his dedication to his work as well as his sense of humour which made him such a likeable and memorable character throughout the city.
Despite being diagnosed with Parkinson’s seven years ago, Peter remained active and was continued to work in his shops on a daily basis.
While in lockdown with the rest of the country, Peter's condition deteriorated and he passed away at his Jesmond home surrounded by family on Wednesday, April 1.
The 70-year-old was posthumously tested for coronavirus and his heartbroken family were informed by the coroner on Friday, April 3, that the results had returned positive, despite displaying no symptoms.
Nephew Chris Harker said the whole family has been left devastated by the loss of his uncle.
He added: "Peter was a legend. Everyone knew him and loved him.
"We have had a lot of tributes on Facebook which says a lot about him and it has brought us a lot of comfort reading them.
"The family has had shops in Newcastle for years. Retail was in his blood."
Peter leaves behind wife Christine, children Philip and Penny, siblings John and Lorelle and nephew Chris.
Peter was a born-and-bred Geordie who grew up in Jesmond and attended St Cuthbert's Catholic Grammar School alongside singer and songwriter Sting.
He began working in the family-owned shops alongside brother John when Plus Four appeared in 1971 on Blackett Street and the start of the denim empire began.
Pretty girls served shoppers and trendy customers came from across the region to buy their 501s.
The shop even attracted a steady stream of people from Norway who sailed into North Shields for weekend breaks.
When Eldon Square opened, the Blackett Street and Clayton Street Street shops moved into Sidgate and High Friars.
A popular figure in Newcastle, Peter went on to become chairman of Eldon Square Merchants Association in the 1980s.
Sister Lorelle Harker said: "Everyone knew him and everyone loved him.
"The most over-riding quality which summed up Peter was his enthusiasm, we all loved him for it.
"He really inspired so many people. He would make you believe anything was possible."
In 1983 he opened Quickstitch, a garment repair service. The company proved hugely popular in Newcastle and expanded across the north of England and Scotland with more than 25 stores.
Quickstitch had a number of big contracts including Team GB during the past three Olympic Games when staff altered clothing for participating athletes.
Gordon Reed, 70, was friends with Peter from the pair being teenagers and said he will be sorely missed.
He added: "He was the life and spirit of the party and was very generous.
"In all the years I never heard a bad word said about him.
"He was a clever businessman who will be massively missed."
His entrepreneurial spirit continued into the 1980s when Peter set up a business called 'The Uncollected Dry Cleaning Company' with stores near Grey's Monument and in the Metrocentre.
The business involved reselling clothing which had not been collected from dry cleaning companies in the region.
Friend Derek Talbot added: "I have so many happy memories of Peter over almost 50 years as a loyal friend and a great travel companion at World Badminton Championships in Jakarta and on the ski slopes of Zermatt and Verbier.
"He was a one-off special guy who was the life and soul of any party. He was a born entertainer who always had a smile on his face.
"He will be sadly missed by so many."
