"To us, he was a gentle giant" - tributes paid to Chichester community warden after unexpected death

Declan Moody passed away suddenly yesterday evening (October 07).

Tributes have been paid to ‘gentle giant’ Declan Moody, who worked as a community warden in Chichester.

Declan started working for the council after the Community Warden scheme was first established in 2005, and was responsible for patrolling the city centre, where his high-visibility jacket and stature made him instantly recognisable.

Wardens like Declan work with police, PCSOs, and local communities to target crime and anti-social behaviour throughout the city, often acting as a professional witness and port of call for concerned residents.

Addressing residents on Facebook, a spokesperson for Chichester District Council said he passed away suddenly yesterday evening. “To us, Declan was a gentle giant, who was loved and respected by everyone. Through his role, he made such a positive impact, assisting both visitors and retailers, and helping to keep the city centre safe,” they said. “We are all going to really miss him. We would like to send our condolences to his family at this very sad time.”