The heartbroken partner of a homeless woman who died of pneumonia says he will never stop loving his "beautiful soulmate".

Flowers, candles and messages appeared at the entrance to NatWest in Ashford's Lower High Street last week in memory of Lisa Smith, who was just 50-years-old.

The mother-of-three, who died on Monday, December 30 at the William Harvey Hospital, was regularly spotted sleeping rough outside the bank but had previously worked as a hairstylist in Barnet, North London.

She moved to Kent in order to make a fresh start and to be close to her daughter.

But a chain of unfortunate circumstances landed the talented artist on the streets of Ashford, where she battled two cold winters.

Her partner Martin Watt - who was with her for three-and-a-half years - says the pair did everything together.

“She was beautiful and was completely and utterly selfless,” the 44-year-old said.

He went on: “Even to the last minute when she was alive she told a friend to look after me.

“She became ill due to being out of the streets - it was too little, too late.

“She was as strong as a horse but the only thing she couldn’t take was the cold.”

Martin says the couple first met in Margate.

“She saw me walking down the street and she followed me into the gardens and chatted me up,” he said.

“She gave me her address and said if you don’t call me tonight I will know that you are not interested.

“One-and-a-half hours later I knocked at her front door and I said - ‘this is better than a phone call’.

“We were homeless for just over a year - it doesn’t sound long but it is when you are on the streets.

“If you are a man and you are homeless with your partner, you have to sleep with one eye open to protect them.”

The pair had been sleeping on the Henwood Industrial Estate, but moved on when their camp was vandalised and they lost all their possessions. More recently they were sleeping near the Designer Outlet.

“She was a perfect mum, they had their ups and downs but she stepped up to the mark more than enough,” Martin added.

“She also displayed her drawings in the high street.

"She was a talented girl and turned a few heads with her work. I will never stop loving her; she was my soulmate."

A spokesman for Ashford Borough Council said the authority offers its “heartfelt condolences” to Lisa’s friends and family.

He said: “We are extremely sad to hear of the death of Lisa Smith while in hospital in the town.”

The spokesman added the council has been aware of Lisa’s case for more than a year ever since she was placed in B&B accommodation in Ashford in 2018 by Canterbury City Council.

He said: “She left the B&B and spent much of last winter in the Winter Night Shelter in Ashford where our officers regularly engaged with her.

“We believe she then spent several months sleeping rough before being taken in by a friend in summer 2019.

“Following the breakdown of this arrangement Lisa was reported to us as sleeping rough again. Council officers met with Lisa and assessed her needs before placing her in emergency accommodation on December 19.

“Around a week later she was admitted to hospital but discharged herself soon after. She was then admitted to hospital once again and sadly passed away there.”

On New Year's Eve, the town's homeless community gathered at midnight to raise a toast to her.

One message left outside NatWest reads: "Lisa fought until her final breath - an angel has finally been set free."

Two fundraising pages have been set up to raise money for the homeless in memory of Lisa.

The first - created by the Glass House in the Lower High Street - is aiming to raise £500, while another is hoping to reach £100.

In an effort to help the homeless during the colder months, a Winter Night Shelter programme run by the churches of Ashford was created five years ago to help the borough’s homeless.

Roger Edwards, a key member of the Winter Night Shelter and street pastor, said: “Lisa was known to us at the winter night shelter although had not come this year.

“She was a very pleasant person and was always ready for a conversation.

“I had met her on many a Friday night - when out with the street pastors - and she was always open and convivial.

“We let her know about the shelter but regrettably she did not make it this year.

“The cold is a danger for the homeless but so also is the damp weather we have been getting.

“This year, in preparation for the shelter, we have been grateful to the council for its support and also a number of stores and clubs alike that offered food and meals.

“She was a very pleasant person and was always ready for a conversation...." Roger Edwards

“It is clear Lisa’s death has greatly impacted the community.

“The night shelter is open again until March and there currently are spaces available to qualifying individuals.”

Ashford Borough Council says the authority has “partnered and provided practical help” to Ashford churches in running the winter night shelter over the last five years.

As well as the shelter, the council also works with the churches on SWEP, which is the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol.

SWEP is implemented by Ashford council when the weather is predicted to fall below zero degrees for three or more consecutive nights, according to the BBC weather report.

SWEP aims to prevent rough sleeping during extreme cold weather.

Outside the winter period, the council says it also assists and advises all single homeless people approaching the authority to prevent homelessness and helps to avoid rough sleeping where possible.

The winter shelter operates from December 16 until March 15.

To donate to the fundraising pages click here or here.

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