Villagers Invited To Say Final Goodbye To Fred

The family of a popular homeless man who was found dead in Kibworth are inviting people to pay their respects during his funeral procession.

Stephen Winter, who was known in the village as Fred, was found at the Smeeton Road Recreation Ground earlier this month and his funeral will be held on Wednesday.

Fred used to give biscuits to Billy the dog, owned by Kibworth resident Caroline Pitcher

The funeral procession will start outside the park at midday on Wednesday and pass through Kibworth via the High Street before going through Fleckney.

Jake Williams, Fred’s nephew, has posted the details on Facebook, saying: “Fred’s family would like to thank everyone for their messages of condolence.

“Unfortunately due to the restrictions of Covid-19, we are very limited on the number of people who can attend the funeral service.

“With this in mind, on Wednesday we are arranging for the funeral procession to begin at Smeeton Road Recreational Ground at 12:00.

“It will then slowly pass through Kibworth via the High Street towards Fleckney Road.

“Following this, the procession will drive through the middle of Fleckney via High Street towards Leicester Road at around 12:20ish.

“If people would like to pay their respects to Fred, feel free to wait along the route as the procession passes by and give him the send off that he deserves.

“Maybe even raise a glass to him if you fancy it, I’m sure he would have liked that!”

An appeal to pay for a permanent memorial to Fred in Kibworth has raised more than £7,400.

Floral tributes have been left on a bench at the Smeeton Road Recreation ground, where Fred often used to sit Pic: Andy Wright