Over 100 people attended a special remembrance service in the Lady Chapel of Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral (Sat 31 August) to honour those who have been bereaved or injured through road crashes.
The service, organised by the North West branch of RoadPeace, the national charity for road crash victims, took place on the 22nd anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Labour Councillor Anna Rothery, Lord Mayor Elect and Liverpool’s first black lord mayor, lost her father in a road crash and spoke movingly during the service, pledging her support and help to RoadPeace to reduce the number of road crashes in the region.
Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury and Labour MP for Bootle, Peter Dowd, also attended the service, along with representatives of the emergency and support services.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has reported there were 1,782 road deaths on Britain’s roads in 2018, with 23 across Merseyside.
Cheshire has seen the largest increase in road deaths – 46 in 2018 compared to 22 in 2017.
The congregation heard from Merseyside Police Chief Inspector Andy Rankine and RoadPeace campaign and press manager Victoria Lebrec, who lost her leg after she was run over by a lorry when cycling to work in 2014.
Lesley Williams read two poems she had written to mark the 19th anniversary of her daughter, Dominique’s death 10 years ago this week en route to Creamfields.
Those attending placed white roses and photographs in the Lady Chapel of the cathedral to remember loved ones during the event.
At the end of the service the congregation heard from the Reverend Barry Parker who held the first ever remembrance service in Liverpool for road crash victims 23 years ago.
After the service, five doves were released outside the cathedral, representing the five people killed on Britain’s roads every day. Petra Kendall-Raynor released a dove in memory of her father Thomas Kendall who was killed when crossing the road as a pedestrian. She said, “Road Safety is too often overlooked in society. Thought provoking services like this one not only help us remember loved ones but encourage us to do more to prevent any more needless injury and loss of life on our roads.”
RoadPeace trustee and event organiser Pauline Fielding said: “I would like to thank everybody who made today’s service possible. Those who are bereaved or injured through a road crash are all different but we have one thing in common, our lives have been changed forever, but we can and do support each other.”
A family who travelled from London to attend the service said, “This is the first time that we felt we were not alone in our situation and it was good to meet others who actually understood what we are going through” Another said, “Thank you so much for welcoming us into this supportive community, it really meant a lot and helped us so much in what is still a difficult time for us. The support was just amazing!”
Notes to Editors
- RoadPeace is the national charity for road crash victims; an independent charity, providing practical information, emotional support and advocacy to those affected by road crashes; as well as campaigning for justice for road crash victims and for road danger reduction policies.
- RoadPeace is a previous winner of the Guardian Charity Award.
- August is National Road Victim Month. RoadPeace is campaigning for an end to the language of denial. The term “accident” exemplifies society’s tolerance to road danger. Too many still do not hold drivers accountable for their actions, implying instead it was a matter of chance. By using the word “accident” society is saying that there is nothing that can be done about these deaths and injuries and they are an acceptable pay off for having motor vehicles. Planes and trains do not have accidents, they crash. Changing language is vital to change attitudes. See roadpeace.org for links to the campaign.
- Department for Transport Statistics, Reported Road Casualties Great Britain Main Results 2018
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-main-results-2018
For more information contact:
- RoadPeace Office 0207 733 1603, roadpeace.org info@roadpeace.org
- Pauline Fielding 0151 342 6381 or 07703357504 fielding@btopenworld.com
- David Midmer 0151 677 5888 or 07800650175
Dove release participants, Lord Mayor Elect, Anna Rothery, Steve Booth, David Midmer, Petra Kendall-Raynor, Michelle Deary
Photos – Twin Vision
Updated on: 4 September 2019