Friends pay tribute to Bognor man who helped the homeless

Eddie Lever was the inspiration behind the Bognor Housing Trust which has grown to encompass 22 rooms in three properties around the town.

His funeral was held on September 1, at Chichester Crematorium, after he passed away a week earlier at the age of 89.

Those present were told by his friend of nearly 40 years, Stan Nattrass: "I was speaking to Paula Harvey, the secretary of the Quaker Housing Trust in London, about Eddie and she praised him for his wonderful work in this respect and said he was an inspiration for her and all the trustees on the board in London."

Mr Lever, who lived on Yapton Road, Barnham, became aware of the need for accommodation for single homeless people when he was a visitor at Ford Open Prison in the late 1970s.

He joined with a few others to achieve the purchase of two properties in Canada Grove in 1984.

"It was sheer hard work on Eddie's part together with faith and help and encouragement from friends in which he was able to bring about this success," said Mr Nattrass.

"I do not think this would ever have got off the ground without his sheer faith, willpower and refusal to accept any doubt that we would have a Bognor Housing Trust."

He described the trust as Mr Lever's legacy of which his family could be justly proud.

Its work has always been to provide supported accommodation for single homeless people with particular needs who require rehabilitative support to enable them to live independently or in suitable supported accommodation.

This gives them the chance to engage in economic and social activity.

Mr Lever was a socialist, peace activist and Quaker whose family was bombed out of London during the second world war.

He was a conscientious objector and was told to work on the land which he enjoyed so much he and his wife, Mabel, took on a smallholding in Barnham.

They became involved with the Quakers in Littlehampton. When a friend in Bognor left 70,000 towards buying a meeting house in Bognor, Mr Lever worked hard to secure the current premises on Victoria Drive.

Mr Lever is survived by his wife, Mabel, and two sons, David and Chris.

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