a bit of good news wavey davey

[mickey]

HE has braved the wind and rain every lonely Christmas for the past 16 years.
But this year will be a real family affair for Tommy Urwin, the man who was once South Tyneside's most well-known homeless man.

He'll tuck into a traditional turkey roast, surrounded by his closest family, after overcoming all the odds to set up a new home for himself.

Tommy, 61, now lives in a local residential home, where he enjoys hearty meals and has put on two stone.

His shaggy grey stubble is long gone, replaced instead with a neat, cultivated moustache.

He spends evenings watching nature and history documentaries, as well as old-fashioned cowboy films on his brand new digibox.

He's even been out for a couple of pints with family members at a couple of local pubs.

His sister, Beryl Nilsson, 59, from Grotto Garden, South Shields, said today: "He's doing well, really well.

"He lives in a local residential home, with his own room, and his own spending money.

"We're always out with him - shopping in Sunderland, South Shields, and going on little day trips here and there.

"It's more than we could ever have expected. We're overjoyed."

Life couldn't have got much more bleak for Tommy when he hit the headlines back in April.

Well-known for braving harsh weather conditions as he stood by the riverside, he was viciously attacked at Mill Dam, and left with a broken eye socket and fractured nose.

He was taken to South Tyneside District Hospital, bloodied and bruised, clutching a bag of socks, a couple of old newspapers and a bottle of cola - his only possessions.

After being treated for his injuries, he was transferred to the hospital's Bede Wing to be assessed. But after four months staff decided that he could set up home in the borough.

Mrs Nilsson offered to let him live with her, but independent Tommy declined, plumping for a plush new residential home in the borough.

She said: "He's always been very independent, which is why he always stayed homeless despite countless offers of help.

"So when he was told he could move out of the hospital he was determined to find his own place. We found him an excellent residential home, and he's got his own bedroom there. The place is like a five-star hotel - he loves it.

"He didn't eat a lot when he first got to hospital, but now that he's out he's got a ravenous appetite. He tucks into big meals and he's put on two stone since he came off the streets, he's even got a little pot belly now.

"He's well-liked by all the staff and loves chatting with the care assistants, who are excellent. They all say that he says hello and has something to say every time he passes one of them. It's an incredible turnaround for him."

He has no memory of life on the streets, and when anybody explains to him that he lived rough for 16 years he looks astonished, and says: "How could anyone survive on the streets for 16 years?"

Since his recovery he's visited the town centre shops which sent him flowers as he recovered from an attack earlier this year, to say thanks for their help and support.

No-one was ever caught for the attack.

Tommy ended up living rough after a series of heartbreaking personal problems in the 1980s, including the death of his mother and losing his shipyard job.


just got to catch the horrible spineless t**t who done it now

[anna]

Its nice to read a happy ending ,, =D>

[northern]

i dont agree with the beating he got, cowardly low life pieces of dogs turd. ( whoever )
His choice to be homeless, numerous offers to be homed and rejected by him.
It was a self inflicted way of life he chose. Why feel sorry for him because he
was homeless.
He might just as yet end up with thousands in the bank, just like that
fella Rocky mentioned.
Pffff self inflicted dont do it for me.

[mickey]

the homeless bit dont come into it really.
just glad to read he is ok.shame the fookin animal
that done it is still walking the streets tho.
hope he gets his 1 day eh [-o<

[baldy.smith]

there was a bloke in townsville who use to walk a few miles everyday picking up beer cans, then one day i read in the paper that this bloke had a hundred thousand dollars in his bank account, weird eh...

Nothing wierd about it rocky, he was obviously picking up "your" empties.

[andysfootball]

apart from the periods that you are barred from the exeter !

[StottieCake]

Glad to hear he's okay.

He was harrassed by idiots and can be seen on U tube when he was trying to sleep at the bus stop near St Hildas church.

I tried to copy the link but couldn't. If you google U tube "south shields + paddy" you'd see the kind of nutters who probably kicked him in.


.

[Globalmyths]

It was lovely to read a story with a happy ending. Thank you for letting us know that it came good in the end.