Memorial unveiled for victims of Forbury Gardens attack
The permanent memorial pays tribute to the people that lost their lives and were injured in the attack in 2020.
A permanent memorial stone has been unveiled for the people that lost their lives and were injured in attacks in Forbury Gardens.
A series of ceremonies took place in Forbury gardens yesterday, to unveil the memorial and remember those killed and injured in the attacks
James Furlong, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails lost their lives after being attacked in June 2020.
An earlier private ceremony took place to reveal the permanent memorial, which was unveiled by the three mothers of the victims. A later Civic Memorial Service, which was open to the public, took place in the gardens at 7pm last night.
The Memorial Service was introduced by Reading's Mayor, Councillor Tony Page. A minutes silence followed before music, which was performed by Nichole Grace.
A poem called 'He is Gone' was then read by Tom Price, from Reading Pride. A reading and prayer was done by Reverent Sonya Wratten before a flower laying ceremony.
The permanent memorial stone was designed in close collaboration with James, Joe and David’s families, and members of the community.
Councillor Tony Page said that "It's an opportunity for the council, the wider community to work with the families and to deliver what we hope will be a fitting memorial to the three who were killed that day - but also remembering that there were a number injured and traumatised during the stabbings...
"Reading showed its support at the time and has a good tradition of doing that on sad occasions such as this."
**"I don't want them to remember how they died - I want them to remember how they lived."**
Gary Furlong is the father of one of the victims of the attacks, James. Gary explained that they wanted a memorial that could have an impact for a long time.
"The thing that we wanted was longevity. It was something that people look at in 40, 50 years time... it's obviously something that myself and Jan will visit every year on the anniversary until the day we die."
Gary also said how he wants the three men to be remembered.
"I don't want them (the three men) to remember how they died - I want them to remember how they lived, all the qualities that they had. These were three integral people in the community."
"Google and look up what the boys were - and what they stood for. If you take any part of them boys out and put it into yourselves, I think we'll all be a lot better people in this world."