Founder of Simon Community dies

Anton ■Vallich-Clifford, the founder of the Simon Community died last Monday in a London hospital aged 55. He will be mourned not only by his immediate relations but also by the extended family of dossers. alcoholics. and addicts who are cared for by the Simon Community workers.
He was admitted to hospital two months ago suffering from disseminated tuberculosis which he contracted from one of the dossers he was working with at the Simon Community Centre in North-west London.
Although Anton WallichClifford is best known for his work with the Simon Community. he had had a richly varied career before founding the community 15 years ago.
He was educated by the Benedictines and began studying for the priesthood, but gave up his studies to join the RAF when the Second World War broke out.
When he was demobbed he became a youth worker and later joined the staff of an approvod school. This was followed by several years as a probation officer. It was while he was doing this work at Bow Street Magistrates' Court that he began to realise the full plight of the homeless person. He wanted to find out what life was really like for those who had to "sleep rough," so he became a "dosser" himself. His experiences with the down-andouts of London led him to found the Simon Community in 1963.
The community aimed at providing a home for men and women who were rejected by society and could not conform sufficiently to fit into the social security network of the Welfare State.
Anton Wallich-Clifford's work with the homeless was a source of inspiration for several parallel organisations, including, St Mungo's, the Cyrenians and the Campaign for the Homeless and Rootless.
His ideals will continue to inspire the members of the Simon Community, who will carry on with his work of offering a home to people classed by society as unhouseable.
The community will miss his guidance keenly. There is always too much work and never enough volunteers. It will be very difficult for the community to find someone else to fill his place but they are determined that the work he started must continue.
A Requiem Mass will be held for him today at St Dominic's Priory, Haverstock Hill, and will be followed by a cremation at the Golders Green Crematorium.