That’s another one gone. My list has reached forty dead people now.

Stuart had a lovely soft northern accent and he gave great hugs that would set you up for the week. He told me he was off the brown AND the methadone which was brilliant, the old methadone is near impossible to kick. I met him when he just came to London from Hull in the middle 90’s looked so different then it took ages for me to be aware this no1 haircut and broad shouldered man of the streets was the same person as the skinny brown curly haired 19 year old I met at an illegal rave all those years ago. It was during a conversation about an old friend of mine that moved back to Ireland 15 years ago it clicked.

“I know him,” he said,

“don’t be silly,” I responded, “he’s bin gone ages.”

“Yes I do,” he insisted, “don’t you remember I relieved myself on his keyboard and he kicked me down the stairs,

Of course I remembered, and was amazed that the two Stuart’s were the same.  We talked and talked, he thought I had been blanking him, ah sure!  The cause of death

was a classic, off the brown for so long and he over extended on the amount to take. There is an idea among some street people that it could have been suicide, he wasn’t stupid he’d know about amounts. That time we met he had told me he was very unhappy but in the end only God knows.

Here’s the crux! When I saw him last I specifally went out to tell whoever I met from my former drinking on the streets life about salvation through Jesus, even told my pastor. However only quoted a little scripture that indecently he agreed with. My father is a catholic and fanatical about his opinion on that to the point of embarrassment. I didn’t want to, “ram religion down his throat,” and now in my grieving and sorrow wish I had. This opportunity will never be lost again, if I could only turn back the clock, but obviously not, so will live with the pain of not offering him the choice of eternal life.

For all of Camden Town’s dead, God has sent many missionaries, my pastor's Brandon and Pamela Munoz being just two of these. He obviously has a great heart for here. This won’t happen again. I WILL preach Christ crucified and the hope that message brings.