Service held for 62 homeless people who have died in Southampton

Friends and family of the people lost spoke of fond memories and genuine connections they had with those who had died.

The youngest of the homeless people who had died in the past three years was just 24 years old.

Representatives of the church gathered with the Lord Mayo  of Southampton Councillor Valerie Laurent, councillors, street pastors and other religious leaders to commemorate the lives of those lost.

The event took place on Wednesday at 11am at St Mary’s Church.

Event organiser, Pam Campbell, 66, was the Clinical Lead for the Homeless Health Care team for more than 30 years.

The service was attended by many people across the city (Image: NQ)She said: “There is an annual event like this in London every year and I wanted to do the same for people in Southampton.

“We decided to commemorate all the homeless people that have died in the city since the start of the first lockdown.

“This is an invisible group in this city and yet they are so meaningful to all those that have come here today.”

Prayers were heard by a number of speakers at the event including the Bishop of Southampton, Debbie Sellin.

During the service, attendees placed coloured ribbons on a black net to symbolise the idea that the homeless people who died fell through the cracks of support in the city.

Ward councillor for Bargate, Cllr Darren Paffey, was in attendance to show the support of Southampton City Council.

He said: “These people die in very tragic circumstances and often alone. To come together as a city and a community and remember these people is very important.

“It is also a moment to reflect that, as a city, we need to do more to protect and help those that are sleeping rough.”

Street pastors and community workers were also in attendance (Image: NQ)The names of the 62 people were read at the ceremony by different speakers.

People who knew those who had died spoke about personal experiences and funny stories from their lives.

Paul Woodman, the leader of City Life Church, said: “We have had people that we are commemorating here today, come into our churches around Southampton so it is very important to myself and my organisation to pay tribute to them.

“What’s really sad to me is that these people have died without even enough money for their own funeral – no one should die like that and that is why we are here today.”