Newark’s Winthorpe Road estate pays tribute to A&S Convenience Store owner following his sudden death
Around 100 people gathered in a vigil outside a shop to pay tribute to its owner, Ajit ‘AJ’ Odedra, following his sudden death.
The following day, residents on Newark’s Winthorpe Road estate, returned to applaud a man who had been at the heart of his community for 15 years, not least during the coronavirus pandemic when he took his shop to his loyal customers.
AJ ran A&S Convenience Store on Meering Avenue on the estate. His family, who continue to run the store where flowers and tributes have been arriving for days, joined around 50 well-wishing customers for the applause.
AJ’s sister, Pushpa Vagani said: “We have been totally overwhelmed by what we have seen.
“We knew AJ was doing a lot but the community has shown us just how much and how much he was loved. I just wish he was here to be able to see just how much.
Her husband, Jateen, said: “To know how much AJ was loved has been overwhelming.
“I believe he is looking down tonight and smiling.
“He was such a big character to summarise — caring, loving, making people laugh a lot and having time for everybody. It didn't matter their age group, everyone was equal in AJ's eyes."
AJ's best friend, James Havelock, said: "He was always there for everybody. No matter what he was doing, he would always stop it and help out.
"If anybody needed anything, AJ would find it and just be there on the doorstep, proud as punch having found it for them.
"That was particularly true during coronavirus. He would take bread, milk, newspapers to the vulnerable and deliver shopping to those who were shielding, vulnerable or worried about leaving home.
"We've clapping for NHS and care workers for ten weeks and we wanted to honour AJ in the same way.
"As has been demonstrated over the past two nights, we all had time for him, but he had so much more time for us.
"Seeing the reaction of people has brought a tear to my eye."
Among those who attended was Katarzyna Janowska, who said on behalf of her family: "He was a very good person.
"He had all the time for me when I needed it. I am a neighbour and he was always there to help.
"When I heard, I just started crying. I had no words.
"My daughter and his daughter were always playing together and when my son was taken into hospital, he was the first person there."
While Anna Swiatek, who had known AJ for five years, said: "He was a wonderful person and his family are the same.
"He was the centre of the community and everybody loved him."
The area's town and district councillor, Gill Dawn said: "It's an absolute tragedy being so young with such a young family.
"Everybody has been taking flowers to the shop where his family live.
"At one time he was considering standing for the town council. He would have made an excellent candidate and councillor because he genuinely cared for the community.
"He was the first to be there to help, not least at the present time during coronavirus when he was out delivering things to the people who needed it because it was just something that came naturally to him.
"If you went into his shop feeling sad or depressed, you didn't feel like that coming out.
"It's just a tragedy. Taking flowers to the shop, holding a vigil and clapping is the community's way of showing just how much AJ was loved and appreciated."
