Kids pay tribute to Lawrence McFadden

Thursday, 12 March 2009

By Jenny Clover

HUNDREDS of children lined the streets last week for the funeral of a much-loved greengrocer.

Lawrence McFadden, 55, was a well-known character in Brixton who ran the New Park Fruiterers in New Park Road for 17 years.

He died on February 24 of cancer.

More than 200 kids from nearby Richard Atkins Primary School lined New Park Road to bid their farewells as the funeral procession made its way to West Norwood Cemetery at 12.30pm on Friday.

Julie Roberts, headteacher of the school, said: “We encourage the children to eat healthily so they would often go in to see Lawrence and he was always giving them free fruit and vegetables.

“They were all extremely fond of him and he loved the children.

“It’s a testament to the very, very special person he was that he meant so much to them.

“They really do miss him and were very moved and sad to lose him, so they asked if they could write cards to his family and watch the procession.”

Mr McFadden’s widow, Julie, said the response from the local community had been overwhelming.

She said: “There has been a fantastic response and the schoolchildren made me some beautiful cards with lovely comments in.

“He was a big part of the kids’ lives because he used to see them every day.”

Mr McFadden lived all his life in the area, running a number of businesses.

He first opened a furniture store before turning his hand to the greengrocer business, opening the shop with his wife in 1992.

He was popular with customers for his wide knowledge of fruit and veg.

Mr McFadden had also worked on the buses for 15 years and his father was a passing-salesman in Brixton in the 1970s who was well-known in the West Indian community.

Mrs McFadden will continue running the shop.

Email: jenny.clover@slp.co.uk

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