Surplus money from a funeral to remember one of Marlow’s favourite sons has been donated to the Wycombe Homeless Connection.
On August 30, 2019, Marlovians attended Amersham Cremation to pay their respects to John Ian ‘Rocky’ Richmond, who died on June 13 that year due to renal failure, hypothermia, a muscle-wasting disease and a form of a blood poisoning, after he escaped from a care home in Goring.
READ MORE: Marlow man has funeral three months after his passing
And after he was found in an undisclosed location, he was taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital where it was discovered that the 77-year-old rugby enthusiast had no next of kin.
John Ian 'Rocky' Richmond
This meant he was due to have a pauper’s funeral, which is organised by the state.
However, his closest friends decided to give Ian the send-off that he deserved and managed to raise approximately £8,000 for a private service.
Hundreds of people attended his funeral at the crematorium before making their way to the Marlow Rugby Club, to give the eccentric bricklayer a proper send-off.
Fifteen months on and with the country making their way through the ongoing pandemic which has severely impacted businesses and charities, six club members who helped organised and design Rocky’s funeral, decided that the surplus money should be donated to their chosen charity, the Wooden Spoon, which helps children with disabilities.
READ MORE: John Ian Richmond - Death Notices & Obituaries
However, they also wanted to help another community-based cause near the town, and they decided to go for the Wycombe Homeless Connection.
The amount of money that was donated is undisclosed.
The programme for Rocky's funeral
Heather Stanley, the market manager of the Wycombe Homeless Connection, said: “After hearing about ‘Rocky’, his life and the impact he had on those who knew him and had given in his memory, it was clear Wycombe Homeless Connection could put Marlow Rugby Club’s generous gift towards helping people who face some of the same challenges that he did.
“We work closely with rough sleepers who face complex challenges, particularly with their mental and physical health.
"Our Homeless Health support worker, who spent over 35 years as a registered nurse, works with people helping them get the healthcare and support they need.
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“This can include registering them with a GP and helping them talk to their doctor while sorting out all the ID and social support they need to get their prescriptions and treatment.
“It can also include helping them get dental treatment and making sure if they do end up in hospital they are discharged somewhere safe and suitable.
“Too often people who don’t ‘fit’ don’t get the help they need and are entitled to, so we make sure they do.”
People celebrated Rocky's life at the Marlow Rugby Club on August 30, 2019
Roger Keys, from Marlow Rugby Club, said: “We think it's fitting that some of the donations made in his memory will go to help other unfortunate people experiencing similar difficulties, and enable them to get the depth of personal, informed and qualified support that sadly were not made available to Ian when he really needed them."
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For more information, visit www.wyhoc.org.uk.
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