Reginald “Sonny” Furbert, a well-known homeless man who called Hamilton home, has died at the age of 67.

Mr Furbert was often seen with a book or a newspaper and was immortalised in a painting by local artist Vernon Clarke.

In 2005, Mr Clarke said: “I often worship at the Cathedral and Sonny comes as well, and he often sits in the back.

“Some days he reads and other days he doesn’t. But for someone to be that brilliant, it is amazing.

“Despite his circumstances he doesn’t have a mean spirit — he has an enlightened spirit.”