ALMOST 18 months on from the funeral of much-appreciated local rough sleeper Jimmy Murphy, Thurrock Nub News is able to share parts of his life story.

And to share the thanks of his 'lost family' to the East Thurrock community that took him to their hearts following his death in Corringham on Christmas Eve, 2023; not only raising money for an appropriate funeral but taking to the streets of Corringham and Stanford to bid him a fond farewell. Many travelled to attend the cremation service at Bowers Gifford. 

How borough paid tribute to Jimmy Murphy - now family will visit to say thanks.

That Jimmy has living relatives including siblings and nephews and nieces, will come as a surprise to many.

Members of the family will be in Thurrock this weekend to say thank-you to local people involved and see the areas of the borough where Jimmy, who was known to his family as Seamus, spent the last years of his life.

In his years living on the streets and churchyards of Horndon on the Hill, Stanford-le-Hope and Corringham, Jimmy told local folk he had no living relatives.  

And after his death, a search by the Essex Coroner's office, Essex Police and Thurrock Council could not find any trace of family. 

That is despite Thurrock Nub News now being told Jimmy's details were held by the Met Police, the Salvation Army and the missing person's list held by Irish police force, the Gardai.

With no trace of a family, it looked likely that Jimmy, whose surname of Murphy was disclosed in his personal documents, would have a public health or pauper's funeral, with no ceremony and little public record.

As a young man Jimmy was close to his family

However, Thurrock Nub News editor Neil Speight brought the situation to the public's attention and launched a fundraiser.

One of the first to come forward and support it was Corringham funeral director David Cotton who offered to provide his firm's funeral services free of charge.

The appeal covered the expense of sundry costs including legal fees and facilities at Pitsea crematorium. 

Prior to the funeral, (which we now know took place coincidentally on the anniversary of Jimmy's mother's death) his coffin was carried in a cortège through Stanford and Corringham, where residents lined the streets and supported the event with rounds of applause as he passed by.

Later, Jimmy's maritime heritage was recognised with a service conducted by the Port of London chaplain and his ashes were scattered on the Thames on an outward tide. 

However, that has proved not to be the end of the story and media coverage eventually reached Jimmy's family, including his siblings in Ireland. 

They have furnished the backdrop to Jimmy's travelling lifestyle, which ultimately meant he lost contact with those 'at home'.

And they have also revealed though his birth name was James, he was known to his family as Seamus. 

The family had been trying to find him for many years but had struggled.

However, though deeply saddened not to have been close to hand when he died, she says the family is immeasurably grateful and moved by the way the local community rallied after his death.

They said: "I don't know where to start as his life was abundant in so many ways and so full of people and endless wonderful yarns.  

 "He is sorely missed by family, friends and a large community who have never forgotten him and always continued to ask of his whereabouts and keep their eyes peeled for wherever he might show up. 

"Despite his struggles he was a dear and cherished person to so many and when he was on a steady trajectory there was nobody more charming, engaging, empathetic, helpful and likeable.  

"He was a guy of great humour, and everyone has so many funny tales to tell about him."

They went on to tell of the family's gratitude when they learned what had happened.

"The people who acted so kindly and accepting of him in your community will forever be in our hearts and at the moment we have no words to put on this, but we want to meet and thank in person all of the people who found it in their hearts to look after our darling brother and made sure he did not make his final journey alone." they told Nub News. 

"You mirrored back to Seamus what he was. 

"He was without judgement and full of compassion for his fellow earthlings and his heartfelt suffering of others and this is what he received in return. 

'Forever Young' - how Seamas is remembered by his family

"He never saw other countries or other people as 'us and them' but regarded humanity as a whole. 

"Thank you. You should all take a bow and be so proud of yourselves and your community to allow him his time and space to live the only way he felt able to do so at that particular time of his life."

Many people who got to know Jimmy in his years in the borough often heard him tell of his love for the sea and of personal adventures. 

They explained: "Seamus came from a seafaring family on his Mother's side who originated from the West of Ireland. 

"Two of his grand uncles Redmond and Martin proudly served in the Merchant Navy in World War Two. 

"Martin Bruen's ship, the SS Castlehill was a coal-carrying vessel of the fleet of John Kelly Ltd of Belfast. It came under attack from the Luftwaffe in the Bristol Channel on 2 March 1941 and was lost at sea along with eight hands. Their names are listed in the Merchant Navy Memorial Garden at Tower Hill.

"It is ironic how Seamus was lost to us at sea also! 

"But now, thanks to Neil and Nub News and colleagues, we would never have known any different about his whereabouts and wouldn't have been able to see the service on film - for this there are no words. 

Thurrock Nub News editor Neil Speight with the memorial near Tower Bridge that includes the name of Jimmy's uncle Martin Bruen who was lost in wartime action.

"The story of how our search came to Essex is a long one and we must give many thanks to the Salvation Army, and in particular to Lorraine Phillips who worked tirelessly against privacy laws to eventually lead us to Essex.  

"A doctor in Westminster working under strict patient confidentiality laws pointed us towards the coroner in Essex who informed us that they had no record of such a person with his date of birth and date of death and nor did they respond to an email or phone enquiries. 

"He was listed missing with many agencies, including the Metropolitan Police, who did help us out on many occasions and for that we are grateful, and also An Garda Síochána here in Ireland. 

"But thanks to all of your wonderful community - words fail us - we now know what happened and how much he was respected and cared for.

"That means so much to us. And we are so grateful to David Cotton and his company and to the priests who spoke kindly of Seamus.

"We would like to remember him for the son, brother, uncle, godfather, friend and fellow human being that he was. May he journey on in peace."

There is now just one mystery left, as they added. "We would just like his passport and any personal belongings to be returned to us. His date of death was issued on his death certificate so obviously it was on him when he died". 

Nub News has chased the coroner's office and Essex Police to see they could. However, the search drew a blank. All the police held was a small amount of money, which has been returned and subsequently donated to the Seafarers' Mission.

During the visit this weekend, members of Jimmy's family will be present when a memorial plaque, funded from what remains of the raised money, will be placed on seating by the Thames at Mucking Nature Park.