Sunday Sun

People’s Kitchen has become a community

Man held over death Society has ‘nothing to fear ’ here

- CHRIS KNIGHT Reporter chris.knight@reachplc.com

A MAN has been arrested in Albania on suspicion of murdering a builder found on a roof in central London nearly a year ago.

A murder probe was launched in April last year after police were called to reports of an injured man on the roof of the Pressman Mastermelt­s building in Hatton Garden.

The victim, 47-year-old builder John Woodward, who was carrying out work at the site, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Metropolit­an Police spokesman said a 22-yearold Albanian national had been arrested by Albanian authoritie­s in the city of Durres on Thursday on suspicion of murder, following an internatio­nal extraditio­n request.

The man remains in custody pending further work as part of the extraditio­n process and Mr Woodward’s family have been informed of the developmen­ts. SELMA Star has called Newcastle her home for the last three decades and is a regular at the People’s Kitchen.

The 54-year-old, who lives with Asperger’s Syndrome, frequently visits the organisati­on’s outreach sessions on Trafalgar Street in Newcastle city centre, and their Alison Centre home on Bath Lane.

Dedicated volunteers give up their time to provide hot food, clothing, and support for anyone in need.

But for Selma, the People’s Kitchen provides something more – a community to call her own.

Among those attending sessions are the homeless, and those on benefits who struggle to put food on the table every day.

Selma believes there is a stigma attached to those who attend outreach sessions but insists there is nothing to “fear” from the community SELMA STAR

She said: “It’s nice to come to a place where the usual unwritten rules of having to act and behave and be ‘normal’ don’t apply.

“Here, people can be themselves. There’s no airs and graces and minding the p’s and q’s.

“You can just relax and be yourself. “Everyone accepts each other. “The kind of people who come here are no worse than the rest of so-called normal society.

“Society – if you’re listening to this – you don’t have so much to be afraid of from these guys.”

Selma was speaking at the Trafalgar Street outreach session held on Valentine’s Day, which provided those in need with “hash brown” meals – consisting of corned beef, beans, tomatoes, onions, and cheese.

Selma admits many of those in attendance have battled or are locked in a fight with addiction. But she insists this label should not be allowed to define her friends. She added: “People have an awful problem with addiction but that doesn’t make them bad people. “That doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to have friends or a social life. “It’s nice to come together as a community who knows each other.”

 ??  ?? ■ Volunteers from the People’s Kitchen serve their weekly late-night supper at the Trafalgar Street arches, Newcastle Selma Star is a regular at the People’s Kitchen ■
■ Volunteers from the People’s Kitchen serve their weekly late-night supper at the Trafalgar Street arches, Newcastle Selma Star is a regular at the People’s Kitchen ■
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