A FUNERAL service has been held for a popular York Big Issue seller, with plans for a memorial service in the city next month.

Peter Toulson, who regularly sold Big Issue North outside Marks and Spencer in Parliament Street, York, died suddenly in November at the age of 52.

More than £5,000 was raised to pay for a funeral service through a justgiving campaign set up by his friends John and Julie McGall, who did not wish for him to have “a pauper’s funeral”.

After the coffin was brought into the chapel to Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve, celebrant Morag Campbell spoke of Mr Toulson as “a big man, with a big heart who had a big smile to go with a big laugh”, and said tributes to him were “full of fabulous stories”.

The service - which included Mr Toulson’s brother, sister and mother - heard he “spent most of his time at school trying to duck board rubbers”, as he would often fall asleep due to taking on a 4am milk round six days a week.

He had lived in Sheffield, Suffolk and Gainsborough, where he met his former partner and lifelong friend Karen, before moving to Leeds in the mid-1990s.

York Press:

Mr Toulson was praised as “always hard worker and always smiling, despite falling on hard times”, and the service also heard tributes from the fundraising page which praised his caring attitude, his wit and kindness.

One donor said: “I feel like I lost a friend. I also smile because I remember if he only had a couple of copies left, he would sing Please Release Me.”

Julie McGall said she was pleased to see about 20 people travel to Lawnswood Crematorium near Leeds for the service, and expected scores of people to attend the second memorial service at Trinity Church in Monkgate, York, on Sunday, February 5, at 4pm.

She said: “His family haven’t seen him for some years, but said they were overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of peoples’ comments because they haven’t seen this side of his life, and what an amazing man he became. I’m sure he would be absolutely delighted. If he’d been there, watching us, I’m sure he would have been really touched by the service.”

A copy of the Big Issue was laid on Mr Toulson’s coffin and Carli Jones from Big Issue North said she was pleased to attend the service in his memory.

She said: "His warmth and sense of humour made him an incredibly personable and loved character. Pete always brought a smile to my day and more often than not had me in hysterics. 

"Pete loved music and was a talented guitar player. We often would print out guitar tabs for Pete, his musical repertoire was vast! Pete has been thus far and will continue to be missed muchly and remembered fondly."