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Funeral for Vlad Borovsky will be held on Friday
11:11, 17 February 2021
updated: 11:12, 17 February 2021
The funeral of a "true gentleman" who was previously homeless in Folkestone will take place this week.
Slovakian Vladimir Borovsky, known as Gemer or Vlad, spent a week in the William Harvey Hospital after suffering a fall which led to cardiac arrest.
He died on Sunday, January 24.
He had been homeless in Folkestone for many years but turned his life around after getting a bedsit a year ago.
Following his death, tributes were paid to Vlad from staff at the Rainbow Centre and its Winter Shelter project, which had supported him for through the years.
The team have now organised a last goodbye for Vlad this Friday at Hawkinge Crematorium.
Numbers are restricted due to Covid-19, and so the team have arranged for the service to be watched online.
To watch, visit wesleymedia.co.uk/webcast-view and use order ID 75831 and password ynwptjdm.
His hearse will also travel through Folkestone prior to the service, beginning at Farriers funeral directors, in Bouverie Road West, at 3.45pm and then travelling down Sandgate Road.
It will stop briefly near the Post Office sorting office, and then to the harbour before making its way to the crematorium.
People are invited to pay their respects as the car travels by, but are reminded to wear masks and maintain social distancing.
Jana Ernest, manager of the Rainbow Centre's Winter Shelter project, set up an online fundraiser to help pay for the funeral and also a memorial for Vlad in the town.
She said: "I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the community, the supporters of the Rainbow Centre and the Winter Shelter and especially those who helped us ensure the funeral can go ahead.
"We received generous help from the WJ Farrier and Sons the funeral directors, as well as the Trinity Benefice and Rev Bob Weldon, who will lead the funeral for us.
"I am sure it will be an emotional day for the whole town."
The online fundraiser has reached £2,473. To donate, search Vladimir Gemer Borovsky on Go Fund Me.
Mrs Ernest previously described Vlad as 'a gentle soul and a true gentleman'.
She said: "Folkestone was his family. He was known by so many.
"He protected his friends on the street at all times, and he particularly looked after all the women he knew, whilst maintaining healthy boundaries around us professionals.
"He was in the centre of resolving any conflicts in the shelter, always fair and on our side when other guests lost it a little.
"He worked very hard, for pennies - from working on the veggie market in town, to collecting scrap metal and helping with peoples gardening or house maintenance.
"Vlad had a difficult life as a child and also when he arrived in the UK, but his final months have been happy for him.
"He was never a complainer anyway!"
