A man who became homeless after his long-term partner died in his arms has been re-united with his estranged family after 30 years.

The family of Kevin Wylde reached out to Birkenhead organisation Hope for the Hungry after reading about his heartbreaking plight.

Kevin said he had gone from having a nice life with a stable job to sleeping in a cemetery next to his partner’s grave when she ‘died in his arms’ after she suffered an aneurysm.

The pair had been together for 30 years but the property they shared was rented in his partner’s name, leading to Kevin becoming homeless and relying on the help of Hope for Hungry to get back on his feet.

Last week, the 54-year-old said he ‘would be dead’ without the support of the organisation – a community street kitchen feeding and clothing some of Birkenhead’s most vulnerable people.

He is currently living in a hostel and says he spends his days walking round ‘like a zombie’ with nothing to do accept wait to be housed, as he can’t start work until he has somewhere to live.

But despite having days when he feels depressed, the former factory worker has been given hope of a fresh start after meeting up with a family member after 30 years of no contact.

Kevin said: “I am made up, I am hoping this can be a fresh start.

“It’s a good job I have got a strong state of mind, or I would not be here now.

“When my partner Gail died it was like a big black hole swallowed me up.

“I don’t understand why this has happened to me. I am a good person, Gail was a good person. She turned my life around. We had the best 30 years together and that would have continued, but fate intervened. ”

Kevin’s family got in touch with the Hope for the Hungry street kitchen after his photo appeared in the story about the service.

Stefanie Parson, who set up Hope for Hungry with her husband Chris, said: “From the article being published, we were contacted by two members of Kevin Wylde’s family, both haven’t seen him for 30+ years. We’ve made contact with Kevin and he was more than happy for us to pass his details onto them. With any luck they’ll be able to rekindle a family relationship they once had.”

Kevin has been homeless for a year and is currently living in a YMCA hostel.

He is on the waiting list for housing and described Hope for the Hungry as a ‘life line’ for the support they have been providing.

Stefanie, 32, said she ‘filled up’ when contacted by his family.

She added: “It’s such a lovely thing to happen to such a nice guy. I really do hope it works out between them all. He was only saying to me on Saturday how he’s not spoken to family for over 30 years, and the step sister told me the same. It would be lovely if they gave him the support he needs following the death of his partner last year.”

Hope for the Hungry meet twice a week outside Birkenhead Town Hall on Hamilton Square, on Thursdays between 7pm and 9pm and on Saturdays between 7pm and 8pm.

It is made up of a growing and dedicated group of volunteers who hand out homemade hot food, drinks, cakes and packed lunches to people in need.

Speaking about the support from the organisation Kevin said: “If it wasn’t for this I don’t know what I would do. It’s a lifeline. When my partner died it was like a big black hole swallowed me up. I didn’t think I would come out of it. I was depressed, living from day to day.

“There’s not much help out for us. If I didn’t have this I’d starve. I’d have nothing to eat. We all get each other and we all get on with each other because we are all in the same boat."