Forbury Gardens fifth anniversary memorial service

A remembrance service will take place on the fifth anniversary of a terrorist attack in a park that left three men dead.

James Furlong, Joe Ritchie-Bennett and David Wails died after being stabbed by Khairi Saadallah in Forbury Gardens, Reading, Berkshire, in 2020.

He was given a whole-life jail term for their murders.

Liz Terry, Labour councillor for Southcote, said the memorial on 20 June would be "particularly poignant" on the "five-year anniversary of a day nobody associated with Reading will ever forget".

A private memorial service for family, friends and invited guests will take place at nearby St Laurence's Church from 18:00 BST.

From 19:00, a public service will take place at the permanent memorial stone to Mr Furlong, Mr Ritchie-Bennett and Mr Wails in Forbury Gardens.

It will be led by the new mayor of Reading, Alice Mpofu-Coles, and Reverend Sonya Wratten, from Reading Minster.

Local gospel singer Nichole Grace will perform, followed by a flower-laying ceremony and a minute's silence.

Ms Terry said: "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.

"The thoughts and prayers of everybody in Reading remain with the families and friends who so needlessly lost loved ones that day and all those injured or affected."

Forbury Gardens will be closed from 15:00 on the day, before reopening at 18.30.

The gardens will shut to the public again from 20:00 and the Maiwand Lion will be lit up from 21:00, with three beams of light shining into the night sky in memory of the victims and all those affected.

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