Hundreds of strangers turn out for funeral of homeless former soldier after Facebook appeal to give him 'fitting send-off'
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Hundreds of strangers turned out for the funeral of a homeless former soldier after a Facebook appeal to give him a 'fitting send-off'.
A poignant service was held at Anfield Crematorium after a Facebook appeal was posted to ask people to help remember Steven McGrath, who died while homeless.
Steve, 58, died after a battle with cancer and as he was estranged from many of his family one of his fellow ex-serviceman, Chris Bridson, appealed for members of the public to attend his funeral to give him a fitting send-off.
The Liverpool Echo reports friends, members of the Whitechapel Centre and others who did not know Steve but were touched by his story gathered at the crematorium to honour his “gentleman-like character” and “a well humoured man.”
(Photo: Unknown)
(Photo: Daily Mirror)
Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond played as large numbers of people entered the service and took their seats.
Steve lived at Mildmay House in Liverpool city centre for nearly two years before his death and a representative from the housing centre spoke of how he would have been shocked at how many people had turned out for him.
She said: “Steve rarely talked about his life before arriving at Mildmay but talked fondly of the Kingos (the King’s Regiment, with whom he had served) and how much they meant to him.
“He never complained and even when asked if he was in any pain from his cancer, always answered the same: ‘It is mediocre’.”
Fellow former serviceman from the King’s Regiment, Chris Bridson, said during the service: “Steve was a loveable man and his personality grew on you, even if he was a pain in the a**e."
Chris’s anecdotes of Steve were met with laughs and raucous applause as his friends remembered a man who loved a laugh and good joke.
Colm Sullivan from the Whitechapel Centre said: “We have turned out to pay our respects today. Steve was comfortable in his last two years and was very well thought of.
“We are made up to see so many people turn out for him, he deserved it.”
(Photo: Daily Mirror)
(Photo: Daily Mirror)
(Photo: Daily Mirror)
Military personnel turned out at the funeral to honour a man who “dedicated his life to serving the country.”
Speaking before the service, Steve’s aunt Carol said they were devastated to learn of his death just three weeks ago but were overwhelmed that he had touched so many lives and that so many people had shown up for him.
The Toby Dewick poem ‘Stand Down’ was read during the short service and commemorated the time he had given to the army.
During the reading Steve’s comrades lowered their heads as the words echoed through the service:
“Rest your body,
“Close your eyes,
“As we weep the loss,
“When a good soldier dies."