Friends of Hove greengrocer Tony Magdi, who died after being punched by a cyclist, have raised nearly £1,000 towards his memorial fund.
A quiz night and raffle at the Westbourne pub in Portland Road, Hove, made £974 and, with a collection box still on the bar, the total looks likely to reach £1,000.
More than 150 people are estimated to have attended the quiz night last Thursday (27 January) which was held close to where Mr Magdi, 52, was attacked.
He died in November three weeks after the attack which took place across the road from his home and shop in Portland Road.
Friends and neighbours want a permanent memorial to Mr Magdi and the money raised at the quiz night takes the memorial fund total to about £1,800.
Councillor Brian Oxley has been supporting the fundraisers’ efforts and – as one of the ward councillors – he has been liaising with officials at Brighton and Hove City Council.
Mr Magdi’s best friend George Jeha and his wife Liz have been keeping a blog since Mr Magdi was attacked.
In a posting about the quiz night and the memorial fund, they thanked Valerie Paynter, of Save Hove, for letting them know that the Westbourne was “jammed to the rafters”.
The Jehas wrote: “People noticed that the community was brought together by this event, and that ‘the level of community spirit Tony Magdi’s death has generated’ has been very moving.
“Valerie suggested that bringing everyone together in this way is Tony’s last gift to us.”
* Paul Lambeth, 35, of Stafford Road, Brighton, has been charged with the manslaughter of Mr Magdi and is due to appear at Lewes Crown Court on Friday 11 March for a plea and case management hearing.
Anyone visiting Portland Road to do their shopping may continue to donate their loose change in a number of collection boxes. There is one in the Westbourne Pub, another in the post office and one more in Down to Earth.
On the night of the quiz I was asked to make two more which will go to Second Seed and to Snackerama.