Vigil remembrance

Here is the remembrance presentation from Wednesday's Vigil Service for victims of knife crime at St John's Seven Kings.

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Take That - Rule The World.

Candlelight Vigil Service for victims of knife crime

Danny O'Brien of Anti-Knife UK has said that he was "so pleased with the turnout" at last night's Candlelight Vigil for victims of knife crime which was hosted at St John's Seven Kings. He says, we "had about 60 people attended and a few technical issues, but I think everyone who came was pleased they came and all my speakers were first class and Camara Jessica Fearon made me cry with her singing and the dancer at the end was amazing too. Thank you if you attended ..." He goes on to say that he would "like to thank everyone who attend or sent messages of support. A big thank you to all those who took part and especially Jonathan Evens who believed in what I was trying to do and offered me his church for the vigil."

I am quoted in the Ilford Recorder as saying that, “the congregation was very grateful for the event.” They took part in an act of remembrance, lighting a candle next to a photo display of knife crime victims. “They were very moved by the occasion, the prayers and reflection" and "were fired up by the speakers too.” Mike Smith, of Word 4 Weapons, an organisation which launched this country’s first weapon exchange programme spoke alongside Wilson Chowdhry, chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA), and Danny O’Brien.

I said that, “We put on the service because we recognised a need people have when they are grieving to remember loved ones and to do that in a public way too with prayer and reflection in the run up to Christmas.” I'm also quoted as saying that we won't be repeating the service next year. That's partly because I will have moved on from St John's by that time and, therefore, can't make commitments on behalf of the church but is also because Danny would like to take the format of this service to other locations rather than simply repeating it annually in Seven Kings.

A contemporary dance act, “expressing the emotions of those affected by knife crime”, rounded off the service in a powerful and moving manner.

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Ooberfuse - Different Drum.

Seven Kings Winter Fayre

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Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday.

Award for Anti-Knife UK

Danny O'Brien, who runs Anti-Knife UK, has won an award from the Chris Donovan Trust.  Click here to read the story in the Ilford Recorder.

Danny is involved in organising a Candle-light Vigil for victims of knife crime to be hosted by St John's Seven Kings on Wednesday 3rd december from 7.00pm to 9.00pm. Among those speaking at the service will be Mike Smith, the founder of Word 4 Weapons.

This week's Ilford Recorder has great coverage of community initiatives in Redbridge including: a Vigil for Magdalena Welna; the opening of the Redbridge Cold Weather Centre; a day in the life of Ilford's Salvation Army lieutenants; Shoebox presents collected by St Peter's Aldborough Hatch; the Sophia Hub Enterprise Club; and the East London Three Faiths Forum Tour of the Holy Land. Click here to read these stories.

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The Mighty Clouds of Joy - I've Been In The Storm Too Long.

Candlelight Vigil Service

See https://www.facebook.com/events/631829703604240/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming for more information about this service on Wednesday 3rd December which is being organised with Anti-Knife UK.

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Eric Bibb - Don't Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down.

Congratulations - Mayor's Award winners

Many congratulations to the Redbridge Cold Weather Centre and Danny O'Brien who won awards in the Mayor’s Awards in Redbridge yesterday:

'The group award went to The Salvation Army Ilford Corps and Church Without Walls for their contribution to the cold weather shelter at the Salvation Army church in Clements Road, Ilford ...


Danny O’Brien, who runs the Anti-Knife UK group from Seven Kings, was the individual winner of the Safer Redbridge award.

Danny, who warns young people about the dangers of carrying a knife through a poster campaign, said: “I’m quite shocked. There’s no funding for myself but if I can help anyone, I would do.

“A knife is a tool until used by a fool and then it becomes a weapon. Don’t let it be one of our kids.”'

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Matthew E White - Will You Love Me.