HIS sudden death touched many people in Winchester just before Christmas.

The city's "burping man", Ron Purse, 71, was known to local people for his uninhibited belching, squeaky voice and habit of engaging total strangers in conversation.

His cheery catchphrase "soon be Christmas" or "soon be Easter", depending on the time of year, could often be heard 100 yards up the street.

Within days of his death at home there were many tributes to the letters pages of the Hampshire Chronicle.

Now Mr Purse, who lived in Fivefields Road, Highcliffe, is set to be permanently remembered by the city.

His family has donated a portrait of him to the city council's art collection, where it will be publicly shown in the future.

The painting could feature in an exhibition of Winchester heroes in 2008.

The portrait was painted and given to Mr Purse about 25 years ago by Winchester artist Trevor Percy-Lancaster, who was killed by a grizzly bear in Canada in 1992.

Mr Purse had worked at the School of Art as a caretaker and regularly attended the degree shows, passing forthright comments on students' work.

The donation has been facilitated by deputy mayor, Cllr Chris Pines, who knew Mr Purse for decades.

He said: "It is a fine painting and memorial for Ron. It is a nice way of remembering someone."

The portrait is due to be presented to the mayor, Cllr Sue Nelmes, by Mr Purse's brothers, Alf, of Westman Road, Weeke, and Basil, of Firmstone Road, Winnall, at Abbey House on Wednesday.