Photo via BBC website

Services remember victims of the recent UK shootings

A series of memorial services took place across Cumbria in the north of England Wednesday to remember the victims of the horrific series of shootings in the area on June 2, reports Michael Ireland, chief correspondent, ASSIST News Service.

According to the website of Ekklesia, the British Christian think-tank, clergy, civic leaders and faith groups from across the spectrum were involved in the services, which culminated in a minute’s silence at midday to mark a week since shooter Derrick Bird’s murderous rampage.

Garry Purdham was the first victim of killer Bird to have a funeral. It was held in the village of Gosforth on Thursday, June 10.

On Friday, a service will be held in Workington for Kevin Commons, a 60-year-old solicitor who was gunned down on his driveway in Frizington.

David Bird, twin brother of the gunman, will be laid to rest on Monday, while Derrick Bird himself will be the last of the 13 to be given a funeral, out of respect to his victims, say organizers.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people packed into a Whitehaven church on Tuesday night to pay their own respects to victims of last week’s shootings.

The Catholic Mass at St Begh’s Priory, on Coach Road, is on the same street where one of Mr Bird's fellow taxi drivers was shot by their disturbed colleague.

Michael Campbell, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Lancaster, led the service.

Speaking afterwards, he said that one of the questions many were asking was "Where was God?" while the murderous rampage was going on. The answer, he said, was in the midst of the suffering, and now with those bringing hope and healing.

In its report www.ekklesia.co.uk says candles were lit in front of statues in the church in memory of the victims, those injured, and their friends and family. The names of all the victims was listed under each statue, along with the message: “For all those who grieve for them and all those who were injured may they be granted healing and strength. Lord, in your mercy, hear out prayer.”

Bishop Campbell declared during the service: “The people of west Cumbria have shed enough tears since last Wednesday when that sequence of prolific and evil events cast a shadow over this most beautiful part of God’s country."

He continued: "We have the compassion of many people near and far. You will struggle and continue to struggle to find words and meaning of the unspeakable horrors that were visited among your communities."

“At a time of helplessness and bewilderment let us turn to God for strength and courage,” said the bishop.

According to the local Whitehaven News newspaper, www.whitehaven-news.co.uk, a report first published on www.newsandstar.co, says about 1,000 people gathered for an emotional remembrance service in the grounds of the Whitehaven church that stands yards from where Derrick Bird gunned down one of his 12 victims.

The newspaper says the gardens of St Nicholas Church were packed as generations from west Cumbria’s tight-knit community gathered to say prayers for all those affected by Wednesday’s shootings.

The church is across the road from the Duke Street taxi rank, where floral tributes lie for 43-year-old cabbie Darren Rewcastle. His family, including mother Betty Scoones, sobbed and hugged each other throughout the service.

The newspaper reported the afternoon’s prolonged torrential downpour cleared just before 6pm and gave church helpers enough time to wipe down the 350 wooden seats. The break in the rain lasted almost an hour before umbrellas went back up, allowing the open air service to go ahead as planned.

"Toddlers in pushchairs and older children sitting on their fathers’ shoulders were among the generations of families who had come together," the news report says.

Firefighters also stood on the streets lining the gardens to hear the service. The Whitehaven Male Voice Choir and the Salvation Army were also there.

Residents who live in three-storey Georgian buildings around the church opened their windows to watch from above, the newspaper said.

Dignitaries included Lord Lieutenant James Cropper, High Sheriff James Carr, Copeland MP Jamie Reed, mayor and mayoress Mike and Joyce McVeigh and Copeland council leader Elaine Woodburn.

The service was led by Rev John Bannister, rector of Whitehaven, who said last week’s events had shocked the “whole community to the very core” but that its strength would enable it to heal in time.

He added: “For me it has been one of the worst weeks in my life and I know it has been the same for so many, but one of the strengths has been what we know has always been there – and that is the strength of this community and this is where the healing and recovery will come from.”

The Bishop of Carlisle, Rt Rev James Newcome, paid tribute to west Cumbrians, who he said would be asking difficult questions like “why us again?” and “where was God?”

He said: “On Wednesday he was in the touch of those who cradled wounded and dying victims in their arms, he was in the skills and professional care of paramedics, nurses and doctors, and he was in the sensitivity of police officers who had to take difficult news to relatives.”

The nwespaper said he also described west Cumbrians as being as “tough as teak and as gentle as lambs” as he described how the community would overcome another tragedy.

Rev Bannister and other church leaders paid tribute to the emergency services too.

He said: “I am particularly aware that the last two weeks has been traumatic for the emergency services who have been unstinting in their commitment and energy in the real face of adversity and pain. We owe them an enormous sense of gratitude.”

Cumbria’s Lord Lieutenant James Cropper read out messages from the Queen and Prince Charles, the newspaper reported.

During the Act of Remembrance, 13 white candles were lit while the names of the 12 people killed were read out, the newspaper said.

Two floral bouquets and two white roses were placed in the circle they had formed on the ground in the centee of the congregation and prayers were said for the dead, their families, the wounded, witnesses and emergency services.

Local singer Cathy Marcangelo sang Going Home, a moving arrangement of Dvorak’s piece by her composer and musician husband John.

Three hymns were sung -- Be Still, For The Presence Of The Lord; Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace and O God, Our Help In Ages Past. Corporal Sergeant Judith Wigham from the Salvation Army gave a reading -- Footprints.

Other church leaders who addressed the vigil were Father Matthew Carney, from St Begh’s RC Church; Pastor John Campbell, of the Elim Pentecostal Church; West Cumberland Hospital chaplain Rev Judy Evans; and Rev Chris Casey, chaplain to west Cumbria police.

Under a sea of umbrellas mourmers gathered in the rain, hugged and wept as they remembered the dead.

About 500 people attended a memorial service on the sea front at Seascale to pay tribute to Derrick Bird’s 12 victims and pray for those who were injured, the newspaper also reported.

Three victims -- Jane Robinson, 66, Michael Pike, 65, and Jamie Clark, 23 -- died in the village within minutes of each other. Down the road at Gosforth, farmer and rugby player Garry Purdham, 31, was also murdered.

People huddled under umbrellas during the 40-minute service, in the village where the largest number of victims died.

The Rev John Woolcock, vicar of Seascale, read out the names of those killed. This was followed by a minute’s silence, the newspaper reported.

"Tears streamed down people’s faces as they bowed their heads to remember the 12 cruelly taken from them," the newspaper report says.

The Rev Richard Teal, chairman of the Cumbria District of the Methodist Church, gave a sermon.

According to the newspaper, he told those gathered that it was not only Cumbria that was in shock and appalled by last week’s killings but the country -- even the world.

Rev Teal said that everyone in Seascale and the surrounding areas would know at least one person who had been killed. He added: “Someone once said that tragedy does not take love away -- it actually increases it.”

During a prayer, Rev Woolcock said west Cumbrians had shown resilience and courage to the tragedies.

Accompanied by a band and choir, worshippers sang the hymns Be Still For The Presence Of The Lord, The Lord’s My Shepherd and Amazing Grace. They also recited Psalm 121, the newspaper said.

The newspaper reported that after the service hundreds of single flowers were laid on a simple cross made from driftwood. Donations were collected for the Great North Air Ambulance.

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TAGS: United Kingdom memorial services series of shootings Derrick Bird Whitehaven church

[06/11/2010]

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