One woman's desperate plea to give homeless 'gentleman' the funeral 'he deserves'

Glen Williams had been waiting years for a flat with his best friend Lee and their pet dog China, but sadly after years of waiting he spent less than a week in his long awaited home.

Glen had open heart surgery eight weeks ago and was doing well but got ill just one week before moving into his new home, resulting in him collapsing outside McDonald's on Friday, October 12.

Now his friend Margaret Atherton is looking to raise funds to give "gentleman" Glen a "decent" funeral.

The 64-year-old, said: "Most people in Leigh will know Glen and Lee with our local hero China, we all love her, so I imagine many like me are heartbroken to hear that Glen has passed away just when he had the chance to be warm and secure this winter,

"It's a tragedy and shows you why people must be given accommodation every year before winter sets in, Lee has had abscesses on his lungs due to having no choice but to drink water out of garden hoses and pneumonia. These are nice men they don't deserve this.

"It's barbaric and cruel on human bodies because three other men have died this year on the Leigh streets due to the lack of help. It's not down to drugs and alcohol it's due to the devastation the rough sleeping causes to their bodies. It's just wrong."

"I am appealing to the generosity of people who knew or didn't know Glen, to please find it within your hearts to make whatever contribution you can towards giving Glen a decent sent off he deserves.

"He was always very lovely and polite and was trying, with Lee, to turn his life around.

"Lee is utterly devastated and they clearly had nothing so any help would be greatly appreciated."

Anyone who wants to donate money towards the funeral or floral tributes please call Margaret on 07841912136.

Anyone looking for help or support this winter please email roughsleep@wigan.gov.uk with information, or call 01942 828777 to contact Leigh Homeless Hub.