Lee wasn’t just known in Burnley, he was loved - friend pays tribute to man found dead on Yorkshire Street
Tributes have been paid to a 54-year-old man who was sadly been found dead on a street in Burnley.
Police confirmed they were called at just after 7.30am on Saturday following reports of a sudden death on Yorkshire Street.
A police spokesman said: “Officers attended and very sadly we can confirm the body of a man in his 50s was found deceased. Efforts are being made to contact the next of kin.”
There are no suspicious circumstances, and a file will be prepared for HM Coroner.
The man has now been named locally as 54-year-old Lee Bond, from Burnley.
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Paying tribute, his friend Dave White said Lee wasn’t just known in Burnley, he was loved.
He said: “He was part of the fabric of the Clifton Street community. To us, he wasn’t “just a homeless man”; he was a friend, a helper, and a gentle soul who made our area kinder simply by being in it.
“Lee was the sort of person who would sit for hours with elderly neighbours like Ken, now in his 80s, just to keep him company so he wasn’t lonely. He would pop to the shop for people, do odd jobs, help out wherever he could, and he always refused payment.
“He stayed honest, moral and trustworthy through every hardship life threw at him. Everyone who knew him respected him. Lee also attended Church on the Street, a place in Burnley that supports the homeless, the elderly, and anyone struggling. He was known there, cared about, and welcomed daily.
“The people there — young and old — will feel his loss deeply.”
He added: “When Lee became homeless, the residents of Clifton Street stepped up. We came together and bought him a caravan so he had a safe place to sleep on a quiet back street with no residents to disturb. It gave him dignity, warmth, and a bit of stability. And as a community, we looked after him.
“But Burnley Council removed his caravan. When we challenged this, we were assured both Lee and the community that he would be found accommodation within a week. On that promise, we allowed them to take the caravan. That promise was broken.
“Two months passed. No accommodation was ever offered. Lee was left sleeping on the street, cold, alone and vulnerable. And now he is gone.
“Our entire community is heartbroken. We did what we could to protect him, and still the system failed him — not quietly, but catastrophically.
“Lee will be missed deeply — more than a statement can capture. His kindness, his humour, his loyalty, and the way he always helped others without expecting anything back… Burnley has lost someone good.
“Someone genuine. Someone we valued. We are now raising funds to give Lee the dignity in death that he wasn’t given in life. Any help towards his funeral costs and arrangements would mean everything to the people who cared for him.”
A GoFundMe link has been set up to help with funeral costs. If you would like to make a donation click here