Westbourne Rotary to remember Ralph Millward 13 years on

Westbourne Rotary Club are preparing to mark the 13th anniversary of the killing of Big Issue seller, Ralph Millward.

Mr Millward, 41, was kicked and left for dead close to his pitch at Marks & Spencer in Westbourne, after he refused to give up his tobacco in 2009.

Three teenagers were jailed after they were convicted of Mr Millward’s manslaughter.

An event has been organised by Westbourne Rotary and the Bournemouth Big Issue team to remember Mr Millward, celebrate his life and “recognise the role all the Big Issue sellers play in supporting a vulnerable part of our society”.

Volunteers at the Ralph Millward memorial in 2015

The commemoration will take place outside Marks and Spencer in Westbourne on Saturday May 7 from 11am and will be led by the president of Westbourne Rotary, Christopher College.

He said: “I believe it is important to remember the very sad circumstances of Ralph's death and pay respect to his life.

“The commemoration will also provide the opportunity to think of all those who are homeless and the agencies which endeavour to help them.”

In the weeks following Mr Millward’s death in 2009, tributes flooded in from residents and friends of the popular homeless man.

Rianna Moreau, who met him when she was homeless, said: “He saw me through it and I did the same with him.

Read more: HUNDREDS SAY FAREWELL TO BIG ISSUE SELLER RALPH MILLWARD

“He called me his little sister. It feels like I’ve lost a member of my family.

Another individual who shared a car, then a tent with Mr Millward for four years, said: “He was argumentative, annoying, brilliant, the best friend I ever had in my life.”

Alan Berry, a former service-user of the Open Door Homeless Project's breakfast club, said: "I knew Ralph to talk to and asked how he was when I saw him.

“He always had a smile on his face and everybody knew him. He would always help anyone and the one time he didn't, he lost his life."