Gavin joined Emmaus Oxford in 2011 and was a familiar face in our Barns Road shop in Cowley, serving customers at the tills and greeting both visitors and colleagues with a warm smile and a friendly chat.
During his time at Emmaus Oxford, Gavin made a huge contribution to the smooth running of the shop, operating the tills and assisting with customers’ enquiries in a friendly, courteous and professional manner.
Gavin was a popular member of the community, who loved joining his companions and staff for meals and social events such as bingo and quiz nights, which he particularly enjoyed.
He was also an avid reader, and would often be seen leafing through the ready supply of books donated to our social enterprise, eager to find the next interesting book to immerse himself in.
Gavin was also a keen photographer who took part in ICON, a collaborative photography project between Arts at the Old Fire Station and Crisis Skylight Oxford in 2019.
The project brought together people with experience of homelessness, including Gavin, to work in collaboration with internationally renowned photographer Rory Carnegie, to recreate and exhibit a series of iconic photographs.
Along with the Crisis members, Gavin helped recreate classic photographs and appeared as Winston Churchill to emulate Yousuf Karsh’s famous 1941 photo, as well as appearing among the Fab Four in a recreation of The Beatles Abbey Road cover photo from 1969.
Gavin also took part in pottery classes and his creativity inspired the community. He also had a great sense of humour and loved a joke.
Gavin touched the lives of so many people, not least our companions, staff, visitors and regular visitors to our Barns Road shop.
A book of condolence is available at Emmaus Oxford for anyone to record their thoughts, memories and feelings at this very sad time.
As a community, we are supporting Gavin’s family as best we can at this difficult time. Gavin’s funeral will take place on Wednesday 28 June and Emmaus Oxford will be closed that day.
Gavin’s family’s request is that instead of flowers, they would like donations made to Emmaus Oxford in his memory. We are extremely honoured and grateful to be supported in this way.
Read Gavin’s story here, as told in his own words in 2019.
You can make a difference in memory of Gavin.
Your regular donation will help us continue to provide a home and meaningful work to people experiencing homelessness and social exclusion.
And if you donate £10 or more a month and opt in to hearing from us, we’ll make you a Friend of Emmaus Oxford.
Thank you for your support.
You can make a difference in memory of Gavin.
Your donation will help us to keep our community running and continue to provide a home and meaningful work to people experiencing homelessness and social exclusion.
Thank you for your support.