Tributes pour in for 'one of a kind' Horace (From Times Series)

Tributes pour in for 'one of a kind' North Finchley regular Horace

3:11pm Tuesday 25th September 2012 in News By Chris Hewett

Horace, whose real name is Stanley, collapsed outside the Whittington Hospital on Monday

Tributes have been pouring in for “one of a kind” street figure Horace White, whose sudden death yesterday has left the population of Finchley in mourning.

A Facebook group entitled ‘RIP Horace’ has now gathered more than 4,000 ‘Likes’, while an online petition to set up a bench in the 54-year-old’s memory has attracted almost 250 web signatures.

Horace, whose real name is Stanley, collapsed outside the Whittington Hospital, in Archway, on Monday as he arrived for an appointment.

Doctors fought for more than two hours to save him but the well known character, of the Grange Estate in East Finchley, was pronounced dead yesterday.

Tributes have been pouring in to the Times Series about the man described as “part of the furniture” in the area.

Linda Khatir, of Woodlands Avenue, remembers seeing Horace regularly in the North Finchley area for more than 30 years.

She said: “Everybody knows him. He was just such a character. Walking past him was always a jaunt. He used to get really upset when people would shout at him from cars and buses.

“He was always sat here with his colouring and crayons – he was an enigma.”

It is believed Horace attended Northside primary, in Percy Road, before going on to the Manorhill School, in Summers Lane, now the Compton School.

Genevieve Otoo got to know the enigmatic figure during her time working at Boots in the High Road during the past six years.

The 29-year-old was tearful at the news of his passing but smiled when recalling her memories of the popular character.

She said: “I just loved him. Anywhere he saw me he would shout ‘best of luck’. He was such a lovely man – totally harmless.

“I can’t believe it, it is so sad – I will always remember him.”

Funeral details are expected to be announced over the next couple of days for the man who would regularly be found drawing and colouring in outside the shops of Finchley High Road.

Flowers have been placed outside the McDonald’s restaurant, one of Horace’s regular haunts.

Hundreds of tributes have also been paid on the memorial Facebook page.

Holly Coulson wrote on the site: “Thank you for always making me smile and for my lovely drawings :). You will be sadly missed, a true legend. Your funeral is going to include the entire population of Finchley, Whetstone and Barnet... for about three generations. RIP to the kindest man known x.”