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Rough sleeper who inspired charity gets headstone

Kate Justicein Worcester
News imageBBC A black rounded top grave stone is inscribed with the details of a deceased person. There is a bouquet of pale flowers in front of it and it is in a dry grave yard area with small amounts of grass and leaves.BBC
John Maggs died alone while sleeping rough and was buried in an unmarked grave

A homeless man who died alone while sleeping rough in Worcester has been honoured with a headstone on his unmarked grave.

John Cecil Maggs was found dead in July 1984 in the empty Fownes Glove Factory, during initial work to turn it into the Fownes Hotel, as it is now.

City residents were so shocked by the circumstances of his death, it prompted the launch of a drop-in centre to support those struggling with homelessness.

Named after him, Maggs Day Centre has just marked its 40th anniversary and after research revealed he was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in Astwood Cemetery, funds were raised to honour him with an official headstone.

News imageA woman with short blond hair and a patterned pale blue dress is standing in a cemetary on a sunny day.
Chair of Maggs Day Centre, Jane Kemp, said that 40 years on, their service to help the homeless is still needed in Worcester

"He had died in Worcester with no family to pay for a funeral and it was quite common in those days for bodies then just to be put in an unmarked grave," said Jane Kemp, chair of the centre.

"It seemed to us very fitting that after 40 years of operating in his name that a headstone was erected."

Kemp added the services they provide are "still needed" for homeless people.

"Yesterday we fed 52 people for breakfast. That cost of living crisis is absolutely there and we have had this extremely hot weather," she continued.

"People start feeling sorry for the homeless at Christmas time when it's cold, but actually this intense heat can be as bad if not worse; lack of water, so hydration issues, sunburn, hot and sweaty and no shower."

News imageA group of people are gathered around a grave in sun dappled light. In the centre is a black marble headstone with light grey engraving
A ceremony to commemorate the life and death of John Cecil Maggs was held at the unveiling of his new headstone at Astwood Cemetery

The headstone was unveiled during a ceremony at the graveside to commemorate John's life.

Lauren Ebeling, a service leader at the centre who was there, said: "It's nice to learn about this John story. I think so often when you hear about the death of a homeless person, that it's just another story.

"You don't hear about that person and what their life meant and the people who loved them.

"I think that having a day like today honours the fact that their life did matter and that their story did matter and the people that loved them mattered and they were just like you and I."

Ebeling added that service users at "Maggs" appreciated the effort made for "somebody in their community."

News imageA woman with tied back blond hair wears a green t-shirt and round glasses. She is standing in a cemetary. Behind her a black marble gravestone can be seen with white flowers laid in front of it.
Lauren Ebeling, service Leader at Maggs Day Centre, said that honouring somebody in the homeless community "gives them a voice"

During research into Maggs' life, it was confirmed that his body was found on 20 July 1984, under a tarpaulin in the disused glove factory.

He was discovered by inspectors who were surveying the property before it was converted into the hotel.

News imageA woman with pinned up blond hair and a green t-shirt has her back to the camera and looks at a black marble gravestone with plae gret engraving. There is a bunch of white flowers in front of the stone and another older gravestone can be seen in the background.
Maggs' staff member Erin Iredale laid flowers at the new headstone as part of the service in his honour
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