Death of Edinburgh rough sleeper inspires charity ballad

Arthur was a well known local on the streets of Leith until winter 2010 when he sadly passed away on a freezing cold night in the Capital.

Until his tragic death, Arthur would stop by the shop Helen Haston worked in each day to try his luck on the slot machines.

Described as a ‘lovely person’ who was trying his hardest to change his life Ms Haston struck up a friendship with the elderly man.

The Loanhead resident said: “He used to come in with his coppers and put them in the machine, hoping he would win big and change his life.”

In the years following Arthur’s untimely death the shop worker honoured her friend's memory by penning a song inspired by his life and death.

Now more than a decade on from the sad passing Ms Haston has released the song to raise money for the homeless organisation she now works for, Four Square.

She said: “Working with people who were homeless at Four Square reminded me of Arthur. there are so many similarities in his situation and the people I work with."

She went on to say that she has seen ‘first hand’ the problem of homelessness increasing ‘ten-fold’ due to the health pandemic.

Saying: “With everything going on at the moment with Covid-19 I thought it was the right time for the fundraiser.”

To purchase the single and support the homeless this winter click HERE.

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