Memorial to Margate 'legend' vandalised

A memorial to a much-loved Kent man has been vandalised.

Shirley Tomlinson told the BBC a bench honouring Margate's Maurice Morris was damaged in what she suggested was "pure vandalism or boredom".

"Everyone around here loved him," said Ms Tomlinson, who knew the 91-year-old well and helped him through ill health and financial difficulties.

"He was a little pickle," she said. "He lived life as he liked to live it. He was a local legend."

Mr Morris, who lived in Margate his entire life, passed away at home in March 2024.

He was familiar to many, having worked in Dreamland amusement park and venue, where he reportedly helped famous bands with their equipment – and other bars and venues in the city.

He also met artist Tracey Emin and led parades in the Kent town.

Crowds lined the streets of Margate for his funeral.

Ms Tomlinson told the BBC that "lots of genuine and generous people" in the community had crowd-funded the ceremony, with a local stonemason donating a headstone for his grave and a housing association giving the memorial bench.

"That bench was symbolic of him as he would always sit on benches - sometimes even fall asleep on them," she laughed.

Frank Leppard, who photographed the damage, said Mr Morris was a "really colourful chap who had time for a chat with anyone."

He said the vandalism "felt so disrespectful".

Thanet District Council has been approached for comment.

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.