Bench commemorates New Milton Big Issue seller Ed Sirani in spot where he sold magazine

A COMMEMORATIVE bench to honour popular Big Issue seller Ed Sirani who died last September has been installed in New Milton where he used to stand when working.

Ed who was described by the town mayor, Cllr Keith Craze, as “a wonderful man” who had been part of the community’s life for more than a decade.

When he died, flowers and tributes were left at the spot outside McColl’s, in Station Road, where Ed would sell the magazine which raises money for the homeless.

It was decided after he died that a bench should be placed as a reminder of a man who many residents said “always had a smile and a kind word for everyone”.

Cllr Craze told the A&T: “He was a wonderful man who did something most people would not dream of, through all weathers.

“Come rain or shine he would stand collecting money, not for himself, but to help others.

“He was constantly motivated by many matters but one amongst the many was his desire to always educate people, and this is what he magnificently achieved in New Milton.

“Now people miss his daily cheery greeting and all will – and do – miss him and his presence in the town.”

Ed, who was believed to be Armenian and aged around 62 when he died, would catch the train from Bournemouth where he lived to New Milton two or three times a week.

He was voted Big Issue Vendor of the Year in 2015 for the Dorset and Hampshire area.

The bench bears the message: “In loving memory of Eddie. The heart of our community. Never to be forgotten.”

It was paid for, said Cllr Craze, by contributions from local councils and the community.

He said: “When people use or see the bench, it will remind them of a wonderful man. It is a way of having a collective remembrance of Ed.”

Attending the ceremony on Saturday was Salvation Army officer Joe Bailey and his wife Margaret. Joe had struck up a friendship with Ed when they both sold magazines in the high street.