The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Collection organisers Norma and David Elms (second left) with Late Shopper owner Ranjit Khela and Sanj Tott, of Jack’s Fish Bar. Photo: VNG020914-13
Shocked neighbours of Spalding murder victim Warren Free have rallied round to raise hundreds of pounds for his young son.
A door-to-door collection on the Royce Road estate on Sunday raised over £400 and lots more cash has flooded in to buckets at Late Shopper and Jack’s Fish Bar in nearby Holbeach Road.
As detectives try to establish who killed Mr Free and why, compassionate neighbours – including many who didn’t know him – dug deep to show support for his son Adam, a Sir John Gleed School pupil believed to be aged 13.
Mr Free (42) was found unconscious with head injuries at his Coronation Close home last Thursday. He died in hospital on Friday.
Seven youths – five boys and two girls – held over the incident were released on police bail on Sunday.
Collection organisers David and Norma Elms, of Coronation Close, felt showing support for Adam at such a tragic time was the least they could do.
Norma (65) said: “We just felt so sorry for Adam and thought it would be good to make a collection for him.
“It’s not going to bring his dad back but hopefully it will show him that so many people are thinking of him.
“We went around all the streets on the estate and people were giving £20 and £10 notes.”
Mr Free and Adam were regular customers at the supermarket and chip shop where the collection continues.
“They were always together,” said Sanj Tott (23), of Jack’s Fish Bar. “He was a nice person and we were only too happy to get involved with this collection.”
The residents’ show of kindness for Adam came as no surprise to St Paul’s district councillor David Ashby, who said: “It’s a very generous area, especially when someone is in need of help.”
A police guard has remained at the council bungalow Mr Free shared with Adam.
Royce Road resident Mick Clarkson said: “It’s a close-knit area, even more so since this happened.”
