Mural on Arthur Street, Leith, Edinburgh

There’s a new mural in Edinburgh on Arthur Street, just off Leith Walk on the corner wall of Casa Amiga cafe. It’s dedicated to the much-beloved Leith legend Arthur Williams.

Arthur’s story

Many Edinburgh residents, especially in Leith, will have known of Arthur, or at least recognised him over the years. I remember first noticing this gentle giant around the neighbourhood in the early 1990s. Arthur called Leith home even though he had come a long way from the land of his birth (Seychelles). Arthur became homeless and lived on the streets of Leith for almost 30 years. Many local residents and businesses would look out for Arthur, make sure he was as safe as possible on the streets and that he didn’t starve.

Arthur disappeared off the local streets in 2013 and word got out that he was sick and had gone into hospital and we never saw him again. Many thought the worst. But Arthur’s story has a happier outcome than we had feared. He is now in his 80s and living in a care home. His family reassures us that Arthur is living out the rest of his days safe, warm and with dignity.

Arthur’s street mural

His family has also commissioned artist Shona Hardie to create a new mural to honour Arthur and say thanks to the people of Leith. This will also raise awareness of mental health homeless issues and offers contact information on-site for those suffering from homelessness. The charity Streetwork has launched a Just Giving campaign for donations to directly help those on the streets.

• £1 pays for a warm drink in a safe place off the street.
• £5 pays for someone to have a hot shower and access to laundry.
• £10 helps someone to become more employable – to find a route off the street.
• £30 pays for a sleeping bag when all options for the night are exhausted.
• £50 per month helps our outreach team reach and speak to vulnerable people on the street.
• £150 provides ongoing support to someone in a situation of crisis, including access to health services.

Already, the local residents have taken the mural into their hearts. Every day, people stop for a moment to admire the artwork and talk about the issues that Arthur’s experience has raised. Arthur certainly embodies the Leith motto ‘Persevere’.