Helping Hands Portsmouth to hold wake remembering ‘much-loved’ member of the homeless community
A HEARTBROKEN group of volunteers will be staging a commemoration to a popular homeless man from Portsmouth who died after being found seriously injured in Edinburgh.
Helping Hands Portsmouth will be marking the loss of one of their street friends, 53-year-old Wayne Elliott, by hosting a wake on the streets of Portsmouth on September 4.
The celebration of life will be held by the fountain in Commercial Road by members from the group, which supports Portsmouth's homeless community.
The organisation, which regularly provides hot food and drink and anything else that is needed to those living on the streets, was keen to host a wake as soon as they heard of Wayne’s death.
As a ‘very big’ part of the outreaches held by the charity and many friends on the streets who want to celebrate his life, Wayne’s wake will be open to any who wish to pay their respects.
Bev Saunders, Helping Hands Portsmouth founder and ‘mum’ to many on the streets, said Wayne was a ‘true gentleman’ and a valued member of the homeless community.
She said: ‘It was actually the rest of the guys still on the streets, who said: “When can we say goodbye to him?” So I said that’s alright we’ll have a wake on the streets.
‘He was absolutely loved, we’ve been doing Helping Hands for six years in September and some of the guys really do touch your soul, he was one of those,’ she added.
The volunteer-led group are asking for donations to contribute towards the send off for the local and to help say goodbye to ‘one of their own’.
All donations will go towards the cost of the wake, including the order of service, food and drink for his ‘street family’, flowers, candles, and photos of Wayne.
Bev Saunders, who has worked with Wayne for a number of years, will start by saying a few words followed by a few words from a pastor from King’s Church, in Southsea, welcoming other’s to do the same.
‘It’s heart breaking he was absolutely lovely, a really generous man,’ added Bev.
Police in Scotland have arrested a 37-year-old man in connection with Mr Elliott’s death. .