Leicester metal fan posthumously gives 600 T-shirts to charity

Duncan Smith died at his home in May

A heavy metal fan has donated about 600 T-shirts to a charity that provided him with palliative care in the last months of his life.

Duncan Smith died at his home in May after spending time under the care of LOROS hospice in Groby Road, Leicester.

The 61-year-old had amassed an impressive T-shirt collection featuring some of his favourite metal bands.

In a bid to give back to the hospice, he donated the collection to be sold at one of their 30 charity shops.

Store manager Matt Gale and volunteer Mat Brandford had never sold clothes before

A regular at metal festival Download, Mr Smith, from Syston, Leicestershire, collected hundreds of T-shirts featuring artists such as Iron Maiden and Metallica.

A TikTok video about the shirt collection was posted, according to the store manager, which attracted thousands of views.

After the video was posted, a group of metal fans were spotted outside the shop as managers opened up.

'Delighted'

Mr Smith's good friend Chris Cockbill said he was an avid metal fan, and was even into some "quite dark music".

"He went to loads of festivals and stuff. He loved it," Mr Cockbill said.

"In fact, quite poignantly, his funeral was on the first day of Download this year.

"He was quite an avid supporter of various charities including LOROS, so it was good for him to give back.

"I think he would have been delighted to see the attention that his clothes are getting."

All of the items are being sold at LOROS' Spiral Scratch store, in Queens Road, Clarendon Park, which specialises in music and media items.

The shop had to work out how to sell so many T-shirts - all of which are large or extra large - having never sold clothing before.

About 600 T-shirts were donated to LOROS hospice

Matt Gale, store manager, said: "It's just become more and more popular.

"There was a TikTok video that got 30,000 views or something.

"We've probably got about 100 T-shirts out in the shop and another 200 in the back - so we still have a lot.

"It's so generous. There's a lot of love for LOROS in Leicestershire because a lot of our volunteers and our customers will have had loved ones who have used the services or know someone who has.

"The generosity of this donor is mirrored by the generosity of plenty of other people who donate to us."