READING is set to mark the fifth anniversary of the victims of the Forbury Gardens attack next week.
Friday, June 20, marks five years since three people lost their lives: David Wails, James Furlong, and Joe Ritchie-Bennett.
A private memorial service for family, friends, and invited guests is to take place at St Laurence’s Church, before a Civic Memorial Service later that evening.
The service, which will take place in Forbury Gardens, will be led by the mayor of Reading, Cllr Mpofu Coles, and Rev Sonya Wratten of the Reading Minster of St Mary the Virgin.
The service will feature a performance by local gospel singer Nichole Grace. This will be followed by a flower laying ceremony and a minute’s silence.
As usual, residents attending are welcome to bring their own flowers to lay.
Forbury Gardens will be closed from 3pm that day and reopen at 6.30pm, and close again at 8pm.
From 9pm, the Maiwand Lion will be lit with three beams of light in memory of James, Joe, and David, as well as the others affected in the attack.
Councillor Liz Terry, Reading Borough Council Leader, said: “Forbury Gardens will host a particularly poignant Civic Memorial Service this year, being the five-year anniversary of a day nobody associated with Reading will ever forget.
“Five years may have passed, but the painful memories of that day remain, and Friday’s service is an opportunity for Reading’s community to come together once again at the Forbury in a show of support and solidarity for the families and close friends of James, Joe and David, just as they did in the difficult days and weeks which followed.
“The thoughts and prayers of everybody in Reading remain with the families and friends who so needlessly loved lost ones that day, and all those injured or affected.”
The Civic Memorial Service takes place in Forbury Gardens from 7pm on Friday, June 20, and will be livestreamed on Reading Borough Council’s Facebook page for those unable to attend.
