A large gathering of friends of Tenby’s Paul Dyer attended his funeral on Tuesday (January 24) to pay respects.

A friend to many, Paul - aka ‘Homeless Paul’ or ‘Guinness Paul’ or ‘Midlands Paul’ as he was affectionately known passed away in December.

Paul for many years lived rough in and around Tenby and was most frequently seen sitting on South Parade chatting to friends and many people in the community who always offered a kind and considerate check on his welfare. He had only been housed relatively recently having previously been a resident in The Albany Hotel in Tenby, which is currently a homeless hostel.

The service held at Parc Gwyn Crematorium in Narberth, was conducted by Ian Rees of the Old Chapel, Lower Frog Street, Tenby. Hymns sung were ‘Morning Has Broken’ and ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’.

A lovely floral tribute was also made by Elements of Floristry, Tenby.

FG Rees and Son Funeral Directors who conducted funeral proceedings, have kindly waived their fee, so the money from a JustGiving fundraising page set up to cover the costs, will now go towards paying for a headstone for Paul and his father at Tenby Cemetery.

Friends of Paul are also looking into getting a special memorial bench made, so it can be situated in one of his favourites spots in Tenby, either along the South Parade or by the Harbour.

Funds remaining will be donated to Tenby Salvation Army and the Old Chapel, where teas and coffees were served following the funeral.

Thanks also go to Maria Battle chair of Hywel Dda University Health Board; and Cllr Michael Williams county councillor for Tenby’s North Ward, who assisted in co-ordinating the funeral.

One man present at the funeral was Dean Flood, who had helped Paul in his role working for Pembrokeshire Care Society, and he paid tribute as follows: “I first made the acquaintance of Paul Dyer in the autumn of 2021. At that time of course the nation was still affected by the Coronavirus global pandemic and for many of us it greatly influenced our daily lives.

“For Paul, like many things, it did not seem to matter that much. ‘I’ve had me first jab’ he told me in his midlands accent. Courtesy of the organisation of local Tenby folk whom I soon realised cared for this man greatly.

“I was at that time a volunteer for the Pembrokeshire Care Society (PCS). My role was to go out into the community to reach out to those who were homeless, including rough sleepers.

“Paul spent his nights sleeping along Tenby harbour – set back from the North Beach. He told me he was ‘lucky’ as he put it ‘the sky and the stars were his canvas every night’.

“He also told me he was alright and didn’t need anything. As days passed I visited regularly, bringing him hot food and sandwiches for the week – courtesy of my wife Sophie,” continued Dean.

“It was evident that there were a number of people checking in on him from local churches, the Salvation Army and local cafes.

“The weather was not always kind and after numerous conversations about the sports results – how his team ‘the Baggies’ as he called them (West Bromwich Albion) were doing, Paul said to me ‘I think I might be getting a little old for this’. It was the first time that he ever indicated that maybe he needed a change and some support.

“He agreed that I look to find him suitable accommodation – at least to get him through the winter. He told me that it was his birthday in December and maybe it was time to spend the nights indoors somewhere warmer.

“PCS in collaboration with PCC Housing managed to arrange a place for Paul at the Albany Hotel. He told me that for the first few nights he slept on the floor as he wasn’t used to the bed. This reminded me of the lived experience of rough sleepers and the consideration we must give in enabling them to settle into accommodation.

“The Albany staff were good to Paul. He told me he was comfortable there and sadly following a fall, which affected him neurologically, Paul told me that the Albany staff had arranged to bring food to his room and check in on him so he could rest. He was at a place that appreciated his needs and were happy to have him as a resident.

“As Paul recovered from his fall our conversation about sport continued. Rugby Union was his preferred topic and he recollected how he represented the county schools team whilst growing up in Solihull. He told me he played in the second row and was picked each year for his school and county. Another interest of his was reading about the First and Second World War. He was knowledgeable about campaigns in WWII in particular.

“When I gained employment with PCS at the start of 2022 as a support worker, Paul became one of my clients,” explained Dean.

“This enabled me to regularly meet with him at the Albany Hotel. He was supported in establishing a Universal Credit account and despite his reluctance he agreed to have a mobile phone. Like so many who are facing challenges, the mobile phone becomes an essential tool for communication; however it is no secret that Paul was not comfortable with technology. Paul lived a life of simplicity and chose to live without the clutter and complications that modern-living can bring.

“In April 2022 I was moved to another role in PCS and Paul was allocated another support worker who supported him regularly right up until the time of his death.

“I saw him around Tenby of course in his usual locations along South Parade and Tudor Square. A familiar and welcome figure, always willing to offer a ‘good morning’ to passers-by.

“He took each day as it comes and like the Chinese philosopher Lao Tze wrote ‘A good traveller has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving’.

“This was true of Paul. He travelled through each day, wanted for nothing and asked for nothing. He was liked and loved by the people of Tenby and he loved Tenby in return,” added Dean.

The JustGiving fundraising page (https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/pauldyerfuneral has now raised over £1,000 in Paul’s memory, and is still going strong.