YOUR writer knew Ralph Millward, killed in Bournemouth.
Three boys - aged between 14 and 16 - have been charged with murdering Ralph, who sold the Big Issue.
He had multiple injuries to his head and chest and had 10 broken ribs.
The day before he died, I saw him. And I thought if I get some money I’m going to buy him some decent shoes. He’s on my mind. If anyone knows about his life - and “Big Issue seller” is so meaningless - please say.
RIP Ralph Millward: Killed In Bournemouth
Posted: 11th, May 2009 | In: Media Comments (12) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
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May 21st, 2009 at 9:26 am
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/4384996.HUNDREDS_SAY_FAREWELL_TO_BIG_ISSUE_SELLER_RALPH_MILLWARD/
May 21st, 2009 at 8:59 am
Hi Pete,
I was at the funeral yesterday - I could not believe how many people were there, hundreds! I saw you get up and speak, I meant to come over and say hello afterwards but was a bit of a kerfuffle getting out of the church then I ended up in the westbourne pub for the rest of the day sinking cold beer..
RIP Ralph mate - I hope you Could see just how many people came for you yesterday mate, Westbourne will never forget you.
May 19th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
hi russ
it is nice to no that people had tried to look out for ralph,he truly was an amazing person growing up,the people of whittington are also deeply affected by this tragic news as allthough we had lost track of ralph i never forgot him.me his other best mate damon and friends pat, kate and martin will be there tomorrow and many others when it is time for his funeral.we should never have lost touch with him and i am so sad we did.other friends from whittington who grew up with ralph and wish to be there for service but can,t are Rob,Jay,Lee,Wakey,Trigg,Rich,Dave,Jon,Dan and many others,we loved you mate
May 19th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Hi Pete,
yes your right, none of us knew ralph at all other than the brief conversations we had with him in town. sounds like he was a great character and its such a shame his life led him to this.. nonetheless this has deeply affected many people in westbourne and Im hoping to be able to get time off work to go to the service on wednesday to pay my respects
May 18th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
ralph was one of my best mates growing up in whittington,from the age of 16 till we were about 30 we were together constantly along with our other mates.those who think they no him after meeting him in recent years have no idea of the real man,he would do anything for me,we got in many scrapes as kids but ralph would never let me down.he was the funniest man i ever met ,to this day a real local legend.i allways said i could write the funniest book ever about ralph and what we all got up to and i may just do that,people need to no the real ralph,a man i proud to call my friend!
May 12th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Well done all of you who looked after him. You should feel very proud and I will try and do the same sometime.
May 12th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
I live in Westbourne and knew Ralph. Not really well, but I’d bought him dinner a couple of times in the chinese restaurant where he went to watch the telly and given him the odd fiver here and there and had numerous conversations with him. He was always cheerful and never had a bad word to say about anything. The kids that murdered him are vile, ferrel council estate scum and shouldnt be allowed to mix with the public ever again, however this countries ridiculous judicial system will probably get them sent to an outdoor retreat centre and trips abroad as their punishment.
RIP Ralph.. Hope its better on the other side mate.
May 12th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I think BI guidelines are not to just hand over cash, but if it’s your decision to do so, it leaves the seller with one more copy he can sell on. One of Ralph’s biggest gripes was selling out too soon, leaving him with 3 or 4 hours before the office reopened and he was able to restock. On more than one occassion I’d buy his last one and agree to pick it up later in the day once he’d been back to the BI office at the top of Poole Hill.
From time to time I’d give Ralph an extra fiver, or a cuppa or sandwich, but what he valued most was being able to have a proper chat with people who liked him for who he was. At 41 years old he’s only a couple of years older than me, but his wisdom on humanity exceeded mine a hundredfold.
May 12th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
It’s a sad fact that whilst Ralph was alive most of us, and probably me, would have walked past him trying our best to ignore him or telling him we’ve got no cash. Poor old bugger. Is it OK to give a Big Issue seller a couple of quid, rather than buy the magazine? No offence, but it’s a shit magazine. (IMO)
May 12th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
He was always standing up…
May 12th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
On my mind too. Ralph was a part of Westbourne for so long and was well liked and respected by many. When I worked in Westbourne I used to nip out of the office most days for a 15 minute lunchtime walk and this would inevitably turn into 45 minutes if Ralph were there for a chat. A genuinely nice bloke who’s background, I feel, is perhaps irrelevant to our recollections of him? Whatever may have gone before, we knew the quietly dignified and funny Ralph who ran his pitch through all weathers.
RIP mate. We’ll miss you.
May 11th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
RIP is about all that can be said.
and why?