Funeral of 75-year-old litter picker held this week

Harvey Scowcroft died three weeks ago and his funeral will be held at the Overdale Crematorium on Thursday, January 18 at 11am.

Harvey was known to many people in Bolton including Cllr Martin Donaghy, leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Nick Peel, and litter picker Andy Capstick.

Cllr Peel met Harvey 20 years ago and and described him as a 'lovely' man.

He said: "I have known Harvey for over 20 years. He was involved with the Haulgh community action with Waler Scott, who has memorial to him.

"The organisation was set up to combat drug dealing which was rife in the area and the council worked with him and the group made a lot of improvement.

"He has then continued and became chair of the Haulgh North Residents Associations and was well regarded in the area for his work like litter picking and planting wild flowers.

!Harvey was a lovely man and always had time to speak to you, he was never negative but always wanted to find solutions, he will be greatly missed.

“He had a myriad of community roles in life, and passion for steam engines and local heritage, and he devoted lot of time to research and keeping history.”

Harvey had been litter picking alone on Castle Street, in Tonge with the Haulgh, when three years ago, Andy Capstick met him and started up a friendship as well as helping him litter pick in the area.

Andy said: “I met him through the litter-picking because he was just always out doing it for his area and so we decided to help him because it was a long stretch for him.

“But Harvey was always there, he never missed a day, and he was genuinely such a brilliant man.

“We’re all missing him and his bright outlook on things.

“I don’t think anyone will ever forget him, and we’re all really sorry he’s not here anymore, litter picking in that area just won’t be the same.”

Andy has also planted flowers in a bin which Harvey first used to plant flowers.

Andy said previously: “I also planted daffodils, hyacinth, tulips, and grape hyacinths for Harvey, who will be sadly missed.

“I last saw him in October and I would usually ring him and ask how he is and what he had been doing and asking if he needed any help.”

Andy will look after the area Harvey covered and continue to plant the flowers in his memory.

Harvey worked on the railway in his time away from litter-picking, and now Andy, will be attending his funeral on Thursday.

READ MORE: Bolton litter pickers plant flowers for 75-year-old Harvey

READ MORE: Communities come together to clean up their area

READ MORE: Farnworth primary school children clean up their area

Andy said: “The power of Facebook and the media that someone messaged me telling me his surname and when the funeral is, and I would not have known otherwise.

“And people have been telling me and it’s great because I found out that a friend of his who lives nearby will also now help to litter pick where he used to be.

“It is mixed feelings because it is sad that we are attending his funeral but I am delighted that we can go and have not missed it and we can pay a tribute to him.

“The best tribute to Harvey would be for people to look after that area in his honour.”