Vandals attack memorial to much-loved Colchester ice cream seller

Friends and well-wishers stumped up £500 to fund a memorial bench in memory of Roy Coleman, a popular figure on Colchester’s Greenstead estate for decades.

Roy died in October, aged 76, after contracting Covid-19.

He served Greenstead as an ice cream salesman for more than 25 years, known for his “friendly and lovely” nature.

Supporters said he “never missed a day of delivering to our kids”.

They said: “He recently fell ill with Covid and unfortunately lost his fight against this dreadful virus.

“Our heartfelt sympathies go to his family, daughters and grandchildren.

“He was an avid Tottenham Hotspur supporter and had been an ice cream man for some 25-plus years.

“He will be very missed by many.

Missed - Roy Coleman was a popular figure in Greenstead for decades

“The bench will be placed near St Andrew’s field, where he was parked most afternoons come rain or shine.

“Any monies left will be offered to the family to support them at this time.”

The bench was due to be installed near Unity Primary Academy, in Hickory Avenue, the site where Roy pitched his truck for decades.

But on Friday Greenstead councillor Tim Young, who helped to provide funding for the bench with his locality budget, was outraged to find vandals had traced crude graffiti in the wet cement.

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“The installation of the bench will now be delayed, as the cement will have to be relaid because of this disgraceful behaviour,” he said.

Mr Young said the Greenstead community “immediately” came together to fund the bench after Roy’s death.

He said: “He was a well-loved ice cream man who served his community, it is appalling to see this happen.

“Roy was a friendly and well-known for what he did. Whenever he arrived in Hickory Avenue, people would flock around to be served.

“He served a whole generation of Greenstead residents and he is sadly and sorely missed.”

Witnesses or anyone with information about the perpetrators of the vandalism can contact Essex Police on 101.