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December 2024 – January 2025 : Solidarity READ ONLINE

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Remembrance

December 01 2024
The service in Southampton © Matt Turtle The service in Southampton © Matt Turtle

An on-the-ground report of Southampton’s service to commemorate people who have died while experiencing homelessness, held Friday 8 November. Words by Pam Campbell

For the second successive year, the city of Southampton hosted its annual memorial service to remember those who have died while experiencing homeless. Powerful tributes were shared and collective grief was held at Saint Mary’s Church, just a stone’s throw away from the city centre.

An act of remembrance is a powerful and emotive thing. Multiplied by 32, and amplified by the knowledge that so many died so young and often so alone. The names of 32 people who have died in the past year having experienced homelessness in Southampton were read with deep reverence and affection. One amongst them, whose name is unknown, was remembered here despite no details of his life, and a comparison to the unknown soldier was made, in that he symbolises the loss of so many families who have never discovered the destiny of their loved one.

“It was emotional obviously. I was impressed with the setup and the way that the organisers went about it – it was good to connect with some of the groups working down here.” These were words shared by Gary Birdsall, who made the trip to Southampton to represent the Museum of

Homelessness, whose own work to remember people who die homeless has seen them build relationships with service organisers across the UK.

The coming together today was more than an act of remembering, revering and celebrating, it was also a call to action. An opportunity to harness the energy of services and experts by experience to press for change, so that no more lives will be blighted by homelessness or cut short by lack of housing and support. A fervent wish that they may all come home.

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December 2024 – January 2025 : Solidarity

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