Southend bids farewell to Sir David Amess
A funeral service and procession has taken place
Last updated 22nd Nov 2021
Mourners have been paying their respects to Sir David Amess in Southend today (22 November).
The 69-year-old father-of-five, was stabbed to death as he met with constituents at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea on 15 October.
This afternoon, bells tolled ahead of a private funeral service for Sir David's family at St Mary's Church in Prittlewell, where members of 3rd Chalkwell Sea Scouts, the Royal Naval Association Standard Bearer and the 1312 Royal Air Force Air Cadet Standard lined the entrance.
His coffin, which was draped with a Union Flag, was met with applause as it was carried in by pall bearers from Southend Fire Service.
The Southend Boys' and Girls' Choirs, Leigh Orpheus Male Voice Choir and St Mary's Church Choir all sang ahead of the service starting.
Sir David's friend and colleague, Mark Francois MP (Radleigh and Wickford), read a touching eulogy:
"He was the original Essex cheeky chappy.
"In short, David Amess had more front than Brighton.
"He was deeply honoured to be knighted by Her Majesty the Queen at Windsor. As he told the Echo newspaper: 'I never dreamt that one day a boy from Forest Gate would be made a knight by a Queen in a castle'.
"He subsequently celebrated by hiring a lightweight suit of armour and turning up to the mayor of Southend's annual reception on a horse.
"When he was asked what he thought he was doing, he simply replied: 'I'm a knight'.
"Our electors employ us to represent them in a contract renewable every few years.
"We work for them and not the other way around, and no-one was ever more conscious of that than David Amess.
"Whatever one thinks of members of Parliament, and opinions do vary, in my experience MPs of all parties do genuinely try and help other people.
"However, collectively in recent years we have perhaps not always helped ourselves, and I humbly suggest today that we need to learn from that.
"But, boy, did David Amess honour the contract with his employers - and in his own inimitable style."
Mr Francois continued:
"He put Basildon firmly on the map and he worked tirelessly for Southend.
"In the end, I think his constituents loved him for it.
"Just look at the turnout here today in this beautiful house of God, which, before long, will form part of the city of Southend - forever.
"So, he won in the end. Some would say, including me, that David was a bit of a legend really."
The former minister also recalled how Sir David had helped break the world record for the most centenarians at one lunch during an event in Southend, recorded an album with Bananarama and had a boiled sweet blessed by the Pope.
Finishing his tribute, Mark Francois MP said: "The David Amess I knew never yielded on an important point of principle to anyone, and so neither shall we.
"Despite this awful tragedy, we are going to keep calm and carry on, because I earnestly believe that is exactly what he would have wanted us to do.
"So, we come to say farewell, or perhaps it is adieu, to Sir David Amess - a wonderful husband and father to Lady Julia and their children, a fine parliamentarian and an absolutely brilliant constituency MP.
"Whatever the weaknesses of Parliament, David Amess was the living embodiment of all its strengths.
"You see, ladies and gentlemen, in the end he really was, quite literally, a jolly good fellow. And so, I am sure, say all of us."
Former Conservative Minister, Ann Widdecombe, read a statement on behalf of Lady Julia Amess and her family:
"The family would like to thank everyone for the wonderful tributes paid to David, following his cruel and violent death. It truly has brought us so much comfort.
"The support shown by friends, constituents and the general public alike has been so overwhelming. As a family, it has given us strength.
"We have realised from tributes paid that there was far, far more to David than even we, those closest to him, knew. We are enormously proud of him.
"Our hearts are shattered.
"However, there was still so much David wanted to do - this we know from the events of the last few days.
"So, this is not the end of Sir David Amess MP.
"It is the next chapter and, as a family, we ask everyone to support the many charities he worked with.
"This is the only way forward. Set aside hatred and work towards togetherness.
"Whatever one's race, religious or political beliefs, be tolerant and try to understand. As a family, we are trying to understand why this awful thing has occurred.
"Nobody should die in that way. Nobody.
"Please let some good come from this tragedy. We are absolutely broken, but we will survive and carry on for the sake of a wonderful and inspiring man.
"We ask at this time that the family's privacy be respected so that we can grieve in private."
After the service, Sir David's coffin was carried to a horse-drawn hearse for a procession around Southend.
Hundreds of people gathered outside Southend's Civic Centre to pay their respects as the hearse, led by four black horses, paused in front of it.
Uniformed police officers bowed their heads as the hearse arrived, with members of the public breaking into applause.
The procession continued on to Sir David's constituency office at Iveagh Hall in Leigh Road, where it again paused for a few moments, before returning to the Chapel of Rest for the night.
Sir David’s family has kindly requested that in lieu of flowers or other tributes, donations are made to the charities Sir David passionately and wholeheartedly supported. These include; The Dog’s Trust, The Music Man Project, Prost8, Endometriosis UK, and the Dame Vera Lynn Memorial Statue, with a JustGiving page set up in his memory.
A requiem mass will be held at Westminster Cathedral in London tomorrow (23 November), where a message from the Pope will be shared.