Tributes to popular Christchurch homeless man 'Saxon Square Andy'

TRIBUTES have poured in for a popular homeless man who used to entertain visitors to Saxon Square.

Andy – also known as Joe – would sit near the upper car park at the Christchurch square talking to people; many said they would seek him out for a chat whenever they were in town.

A message posted on Facebook by a friend revealed he had passed away at Bournemouth Hospital.

It read: "Some of you might have known a chap who used to sit in the Saxon Square car park, upstairs by the pedestrian slope down to the shops. Most people knew him as 'Joe' or as 'Andy', which was his actual name.

“I'm really sorry to have to say that he passed away earlier this week in Royal Bournemouth Hospital. I've known him for many, many years.

"I wanted to post this here as I know a lot of people used to chat with him and give him drinks and food. Thank you to all those who used to speak with him as he always said he had lots of friends who'd chat with him. Now, he can rest in peace.”

Daniel Hearn, team leader at Greggs, told the A&T: “People would come in during the day saying 'I’m just getting something for Andy'. He was a very popular person.

"I was really sad when I heard he had died; mornings won’t be the same without him.”

Daniel added: "He was a lovely guy. Every morning he would come in here for a sausage bap with brown sauce and a cup of tea with about 10 sugars in it.

"He was so nice and very polite, and always liked a chat. He put a smile on all our faces."

Volunteers from Christchurch Soup Kitchen said that although Andy had not used the service, they had known him well, adding: "He was a lovely, lovely guy. Everyone will tell you the same. He was known by everybody and will be sorely missed.

"We were down in the square today and several people said to us 'Have you heard?'. They were very upset."

Flowers have been left at his spot in the car park, and a flood of tributes were posted on Facebook following the news of his death, with one mum revealing: “Me and my children will miss your face and our chats every morning on our way to school. Hope you are at peace.”

Another woman wrote: “This is heartbreaking, such a lovely man. He never begged or asked for anything. Was always happy to have a chat and was always so grateful. RIP Andy.”

One mum credited Andy with helping her shy son: “We used to give him food, a hot drink and some money nearly every day. He was a wonderful, friendly and gentle soul who would chat to me and my son.

"He helped my son not to be so shy by just talking and listening to him. He was a wonderful and intelligent man; we will miss him very much. As he would say to us as we parted, 'God Bless'."

Another parent said her children also loved talking to Andy: “This is devastating. Me, my husband and the kids would actively look for him every time we were in town; we loved chatting to him, and he really brought one of our girls out of her shell.

“I remember buying him new blankets, waterproofs, clothes and a flask. He was so so grateful and almost in tears.

"Every time we headed into town my daughter would reminds us to go and Greggs for Andy. She would sit for hours chatting to him if she could. He will be truly missed and was definitely well-loved."