In the shadow of the Maiwand lion statue, Reading came together remember the three people who died, and those injured, on the first anniversary of the Forbury terror attack.
On Sunday, more than 200 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.
Also attending were Reading MPs Alok Sharma and Matt Rodda, members of the emergency services, including Thames Valley Police, as well as representatives from various religious and community groups from the greater Reading area.
The service was broadcast live on BBC Radio Berkshire.
It opened with an introduction and welcome from the mayor of Reading, Cllr David Stevens.
“It was on Saturday, June 20, a year ago today, that Reading so needlessly lost James Furlong, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails a few yards from here in Forbury Gardens,” he said. “I think I speak for all of us here now … it doesn’t feel like a year.
“To the families and friends of James, David and Joe we can only stand beside you as we did in the days and weeks which followed their death and share in your continued grief and sadness. We thank you for offering us the opportunity to do that with you today.”
He added that people will continue to visit Forbury Gardens and pause for thought about the events of the terrorist attack, while in the days after the incident, it saw a huge outpouring of sadness in Reading, but also “a coming together of the whole community, which embodied the remarkable spirit we have always known exists in our town”.
This, he said made him immensely proud of Reading and was something he would never forget.
Cllr Stevens concluded: “To those who lost loved ones or close friends that day, you should know that Reading will always stand with you. David, James and Joseph, you will not be forgotten.”
There were three tributes, one for each of the three victims.
Ken Murphy spoke about David Wails, thanking the council and the organisers for arranging this anniversary event, and to those who had given to a memorial fund.
“We appreciate your kindness and caring,” he said, before reading his tribute.
“They say time is a great healer, but I don’t think we will ever recover from the loss of David, James and Joe, in such a terrible way in these gardens,” he said. “However, we pray that they are now at peace and are able to look down on us and are happy with the love shown for them, and the tributes being paid to them by everyone here today.
“May God keep them safe in his care.
“Until we meet again. Joe, Andrew, Anne, Dexter and Oscar.”
Gary Furlong spoke about his brother James.
“I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to be here to pay tribute to those who lost their lives, and everyone who’s been impacted by the terrible events that happened here a year ago,” he said.
“I’m grateful to be given the opportunity to give a tribute to my brother, James Furlong on behalf of his family and friends.
“The impact that James has in his life makes it feel that so many people lost someone close to them last year; in that sense, it means so much more.
“James’s gentle soul, kind and caring. His morals were impeccable, never swayed by personal incentives no matter what the cost of consequences to him. He was truly a selfless man.
“His life was story of triumph over adversity; coming out is a gay man so young and society’s acceptance was not as it is today. James never deterred by the challenges he faced, and he prospered through grit and determination, achieving his lifelong goal as a schoolteacher heading the history departments, which was his passion.
“In his life, James always stood for those who needed support and understand that the most through his work with the local LGBT communities and for those who simply cried out for help, James was always there. And this has been echoed so loudly after his passing in the countless stories and letters from those who felt that support.
“James brightened all our lives, and we are grateful for the gift that was James.
“He was a great conversationalist, so well read, a witty sense of humour, stubborn to a fault.
“He always had the amazing ability to put you at ease. And you always came back feeling a little wiser, a little humbler.
“The impact and memories of James cannot be defined or altered by his death. Life is tough without him here, but the memories and experiences of all the good times strengthen us.
“The love we have (for) James will last our lifetimes.
“Being around James has made us all better people. And there’s so much we can learn from him from the way he lived his life.
“His lesson of resilience, I feel is important for how we all continue on with our lives. This has been epitomised by the children and the teachers of The Holt School, who have honoured them so well and with love and dignity.
“He would also be humbled by how the way the Reading community have rallied both in the aftermath of his passing and to this day.
“Reading was his home where he was making his life, where he was happy.
“All who have known James, I encourage you in all the weeks, months and years to come to continue to share stories and memories in this way, (this) will keep the gift of James alive.”
Martin Cooper read a tribute to his friend Joe Ritchie-Bennett.
“Our lives were changed forever on Saturday, June 25 2020. We did not learn of the horrible events in Reading, England until 7am on Sunday, June 21 2020, which happens to be Father’s Day.
“Since Joe was not planning on coming home for Father’s Day, he had sent a card and we planned on having a family telephone call on that day. Joe had a quirky sense of humour, and he was known among his family and friends for finding the funniest of cards, inevitably making you laugh.
“It was during the pre-planned call that we were supposed to open Joe’s cads and all have a good laugh together. Little did we know that call would never happen. Instead of the learning of Joe’s murder, we opened the card.
“As was typical, Joe sent a hilariously funny card. However, he wrote a nice message inside of the card to Dad. The last line of that message was, ‘I’ll be thinking of you from afar’.
“Little did Joe know when he wrote with that, how far he would be.
“This began our year long, long nightmare that we have been living, and one we realise now will continue forever.
“The next few days were a blur. Joe was lying dead over in England. And due to Covid-19 pandemic we were told that we could not fly over there as we will be locked down and placed in hotel on quarantine for a minimum of 14 days. This added heartache to heartbreak.
“All we wanted to do was get on a plane and be with Joe. It didn’t seem real.
“We were all waiting for a telephone to ring and for Joe to tell us that this was a huge misunderstanding.
“Days turned into weeks and the realisation registered that Joe was gone forever.
“We made a family decision to bring Joe home and bury him here. We visit him every day at the cemetery. Our entire family purchased plots next to him so that he will not be alone, and so that we can all be together again some day.
“Joe was born and raised in Philadelphia and resided there for 25 years prior to meeting the love of his life, Ian Bennett, on a trip to London.
“During 2004, Joe went to England to meet a female family friend that he attended college with when by chance he met Ian Bennett. What began his friendship quickly turn into love. And in spring of 2006, Joe announced to our family that he was moving to England to further his relationship with Ian.
“Ian was truly Joe’s soulmate. He and Joe share the unification ceremony on November the 11th 2006. And were happily together for six wonderful years before Ian was taken from us too early from cancer to the young age of 32 years on December 6, 2014.
“Between 2006 and 2014 laws in England had changed and Joe and Ian had applied for a marriage licence. Yet in another ironic twist of fate, on the very day Ian died – December 6, 2014 – they were supposed to be married. Joe loved England and made it his home.
“He found a career that he loved with ALK-Abello Pharmaceuticals, where he was a manager. Joe was loved by his family, his friends and his colleagues at work. We would like to thank his colleagues who shared beautiful tributes with us, honouring Joe and who have been so good to us since his untimely death.
“Joe was a blessing to the entire world but, most importantly, a blessing to our entire family for 39 years.
“To know Joe was to love Joe. We have never met anyone who didn’t love Joe. His mere presence made you smile. It took very little effort on his part to make you laugh.
“Joe was warm. He was genuine. He was welcoming. He loved people. In Joe’s heart, there were no strangers, only friends he has yet to meet.
“Joe had a love for travel and he travelled to many countries throughout the world. Just prior to his murder, Joe was planning on doing three things for his upcoming 40th birthday: climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, visiting Tanzania after climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, and visiting Greece.
“We love you Joe. We are so very sorry this happened to you. Our heart aches for you every day. Rest in peace our son and brother. We will all be with you again some day. We are so proud of you and the way that you lived your life.
“You have touched so many people and left lasting memories. We will forever keep your memory alive, you have our promise. We love you.
“We always have and always will. Until we see you again, may God hold you in the palm of his hands.”
Members of Wokingham’s 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 of St Mary the Virgin, in St Mary’s Butts.
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. The bouquets and single yellow roses were left at the bandstand, just as they were a year ago by a devastated community.
The tributes to David, James and Joe continued throughout Sunday. The Maiwand Lion in the gardens has been lit up for the day, 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.
