Man leaves Grade II listed house to homeless charity

Longtime friend Rose Niland said David Guinness has "left a hole" in the community

A three-bedroom house generously left to a homeless charity could be ready for a family to move in by Christmas, staff say.

David Guinness gifted his three-bedroom, Grade II listed home in Stroud, Gloucestershire, to Emmaus when he died aged 81 in 2020.

Lorraine Watson, from the local branch of Emmaus, said the charity was "incredibly grateful" and "proud to honour his wish to provide a safe, stable home for a family in need".

His close friend of 11 years, Rose Niland, said he was a "quirky" and "lovely" man whose eccentric ways have "left a big hole in the community".

Mr Guinness's Grade II listed house was gifted to Emmaus Gloucestershire

Ms Niland said: "He was quite distinctive because he's 6ft three tall and would arrive [at church] with his organ music in his famous supermarket carrier bag.

"At a carol service, he swang back on the two legs of his chair, and because he was so tall, he caught fire on one of the candles.

"It's quite Monty Python, but that was just him."

She said she went to his home to check he was OK after the carol service and from then on they became good friends.

"He was extremely clever and had his own quirky ways of doing things," she said. "He was a lovely man, he's left a big hole in the community.

"He told me long before he died that he was going to leave his house to Emmaus. He knew a lot of people sleeping rough."

Ringway Infrastructure Services volunteered to clear the garden

Emmaus said the gift would enable it to start supporting families with social housing, offering not just a home, but long-term stability.

After receiving the keys in 2022, the charity began renovations.

In March, a team from estate agent Mack Residential raised more than £23,000 for the work by completing a 220-mile cycle challenge from Cheltenham to Dublin.

In April, a team from Ringway Infrastructure Services volunteered their time to clear the garden, helping prepare the site for renovation work.

Ms Watson said: "Support from local individuals and businesses, whether it's donations, fundraising, hands-on help or assistance with capital building projects, will make all the difference in getting the house ready so a family can move in before Christmas this year."