FLAGS across Reading were at half-mast as Reading paused to remember the first anniversary of the Forbury attack in which three people died.
More than 200 people – family, friends and members of the community – gathered together in Reading’s Forbury Gardens for a memorial service to the lives of James Furlong, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails.
The service was broadcast live on BBC Radio Berkshire and livestreamed via Reading Borough Council’s YouTube page.
It opened with an introduction and welcome from the mayor of Reading, Cllr David Stevens.
There were three tributes, one for each of the three victims.
Ken Murphy spoke about David Wails.
Gary Furlong spoke about James Furlong, while Martin Cooper read a tribute to Joe Ritchie-Bennett.
Members of The Holt School, where James Furlong was a teacher, played an important part in the memorial service.
Niha Roy Choudhary performed John Rutter’s A Clare Benediction, Kripa David sang Oceans, and Tamanna Steven read The Peace Prayer.
A Bible reading – 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 and verse 13, was given by the Revd Sonya Wratten, vicar of the Reading Minster Church.
Members of the Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra accompanied Florence Price in a performance of Adoration, arranged for strings by Tyler Merideth.
The orchestra also performed two pieces, Grieg’s The Last Spring and Elgar’s Larghetto, during a flower laying ceremony that followed a minute’s silence.
In addition, the council’s flag is at half-mast, while the Maiwand Lion in the gardens is being lit up and three white beams of light are shining in the sky.
The service was open to the public, but spaces were limited due to covid restrictions.
Forbury Gardens is now closed to the public until tomorrow morning.
More follows.
