FRIENDS of a York beggar who died last week packed into a city-centre church to say farewell to the man they said was “widely loved”.

Dave Robinson became familiar to many York residents as they passed him at his pitch outside St Martin’s Church in Coney Street.

And it was that church to which his coffin was carried yesterday for an emotional service held in his memory.

Though unwell for some time, Mr Robinson’s death at 51 was sudden and had come as a shock to many of his friends at the Arclight Centre in Union Terrace, where he was a resident.

Centre manager Jeremy Jones said: “He was part of the furniture and he has left a great gap in our lives.

“I was delighted with the turnout today, but not surprised,” he said. “He was widely loved.

“He epitomised the kind of man for whom we run the organisation.”

During the funeral service, the Rev Paul Wordsworth spoke of how many people came to know Mr Robinson.

He said: “Some people did their best not to see him because that’s how some people are. Dave had to put up with that, but he never abused anybody for disregarding him.

“But there were others who saw him as a human being and would say ‘hi’ or talk to him.

“Perhaps many people didn’t know his name, but they knew his face and there were acts of kindness.”

Following the service, many of Mr Robinson’s friends stayed on for a wake laid on by St Martin’s.

Friend and fellow Arclight resident Charlie Robinson said: “I knew Dave pretty well and he would do anything for anybody and was always there if you needed him. He will be sadly missed.”

Phil Clarke, who was helped to rebuild his life by Arclight, spoke on behalf of all homeless people when he said “don’t look down on us”.

“It’s a shame but some people do have to be like this. We have been helped by Arclight, but there are some for whom it takes a long time and others don’t make it at all.”