Emmerdale stars Laura Norton and Mark Jordon have paid tribute to a 'dear friend' following his death. The couple, who have two children together with Usher Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder causing balance issues, hearing loss, and vision loss, are passionate about raising awareness for the condition. For the past few years, they have hosted a Cure Usher ball, where friends from the industry gather to discuss Usher Syndrome and raise funds for research.
David Longstaffe Remembered
Among those who attended past events was David Longstaffe, a loving friend of Mark and Laura and a photographer. Following David's death, the couple shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, reflecting on his life and impact on their Cure Usher balls.
'Today we lost a dear friend @david_longstaffe,' the tribute began. 'For many people David was a photographer. To us he was so much more than that. We first met David on a OK magazine photoshoot. From that very first day he made us feel comfortable, valued and completely at ease. He had a way of turning a shoot into an experience, full of laughter, stories and warmth. When we put on our very first ball for @cureusher, David never hesitated when asked for help. He gave his time, his talent and his heart to the cause.'
'Year after year he captured the moments that mattered most. The smiles, the celebration, emotions and the people who make our community so special. The evening always begins with the red carpet; David had a gift of making everyone feel like they belong there. He put people at ease instantly and never missed a moment. Behind the scenes he worked tirelessly, delivering incredible images with incredible speed and professionalism, helping our event run smoothly while creating memories that will last forever.'
The message continued: 'His photographs helped shape the identity of the ball and the wider Cure Usher story. The artists, performers, sponsors and guests all valued working with him; we were incredibly lucky to call him our friend. I always enjoyed the conversations that came with every shoot or editing session. David would share stories, offer advice and leave you feeling better for having spent time with him. He was fascinating, generous and kind. A man with an enormous heart. Someone I trusted completely.'
Mark added: 'Laura and I will always be grateful for the friendship he showed us, and everyone at Cure Usher is thankful for the role he played in helping our charity grow. His contribution went far beyond taking photographs. He helped us tell our story. Our thoughts today are with Sharon, who stood beside him through it all, often giving up her weekends to support the work too. The love they shared was obvious to everyone who met them. We send Sharon and all of David's family our love at this incredibly sad time. Thank you, David, for your friendship, your generosity and the countless moments you captured for us all. You will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.'
In the comments section of the moving post, Laura added: 'Beautifully said Mark. I still cannot believe this devastating news. Heart broken. What an unbelievably generous soul. He gave so much wanting nothing in return. The love and friendship he showed Mark and I and then our babies when they arrived. He devoted so much time and energy to the charity and I'll miss his beautiful spirit so much.'
Among the many people sharing their support, former Emmerdale star Chelsea Halfpenny wrote: 'So sorry to hear this ❤️❤️❤️❤️'. Michelle Hardwick, who plays Vanessa Woodfield, said: 'So much love to you all ♥️'.
Background on the Stars
Mark played the role of Daz Spencer in the ITV soap from 2014 to 2019, with a brief return in 2024 as part of Amelia Spencer's departure story. Laura is still part of the Emmerdale cast as Kerry Wyatt, who recently decided to look after Jai Sharma's son Archie while he went to Canada, but found herself dealing with an unexpected situation when Archie created an AI version of Caleb Miligan's daughter to steal money.
