People are once again paying tribute to Sir David Amess as his funeral takes place to commemorate his life.
Sir David was killed in his constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on 15 October after a man entered the room and stabbed him several times. A week later, Ali Harbi Ali, 25, was charged with murder as part of an investigation led by Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command. He will stand trial next year.
Today, following a 1pm service for Sir David at St Mary’s Church, Prittlewell, which only his family is attending, his casket will be carried in a horse-drawn hearse through Southend’s streets, and colleagues and people close to him are sharing their memories of the MP.
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Our thoughts today are with Sir David Amess' family, friends, colleagues and the community he served as their MP. We're so grateful for his steadfast support of our work and everything he did to improve the lives of dogs in the UK. He'll be greatly missed. 💛🐾 pic.twitter.com/x4w1iTsU44
— Dogs Trust 💛🐶 (@DogsTrust) November 22, 2021
My thoughts are with the family and friends of Sir David Amess, as his funeral takes place today. His legacy and his contribution to public life will never be forgotten.
— James Morris MP (@JamesMorris) November 22, 2021
Today there will be a memorial service for Sir David Amess MP, who was killed while serving the people of Southend. We would like to send our deepest sympathies to Sir David's family, and we echo their call for people to "set aside hatred and work towards togetherness". pic.twitter.com/yc0i1WoqI5
— The Jo Cox Foundation (@JoCoxFoundation) November 22, 2021
The funeral of Sir David Amess takes place today. With the Owen Paterson scandal, it’s all too easy to forget there are many good, hard working MPs. David was definitely one of those, my thoughts with his family today pic.twitter.com/UO8qerIumS
— dominic dyer (@domdyer70) November 22, 2021
It was an honour to lay a wreath for Sir David Amess and remember his tremendous life of public service. Our thoughts are with Sir David and his family ahead of his funeral service today in Southend pic.twitter.com/Y3341G64Ys
— Lord Wajid Khan (@LordWajidKhan) November 22, 2021
People have stopped in their tracks as the coffin carrying Sir David Amess is carefully brought into St Mary’s church. After the coffin entered the churchyard a round of applause flooded the streets pic.twitter.com/cPoqGazk33
— Ellie Costello (@elliecostelloTV) November 22, 2021
Speaking to press today, former MP Ann Widdecombe said he was “intensely interested in people” and made “a huge difference”.
“It was never just a job to David,” she said.
This tribute to Sir David Amess is really touching. pic.twitter.com/yI4Ug7UxOt
— Darren Grimes 🇬🇧 (@darrengrimes_) November 22, 2021
Earlier today, Boris Johnson also told BBC Essex how he was in the middle of a cabinet away day in Bristol when he learned of the tragedy.
“Everybody was absolutely devastated,” he said.
“I had to go back in to tell cabinet colleagues, many of whom had known David for decades, and I’m afraid several colleagues broke down in tears because it was just an appalling piece of news.
“I think we were also very shaken by the implications of what had happened, and the fact his life had been tragically ended in the way that it was.
“I’ve spoken to members of his family and they’ve had a very tough time, as you can imagine.”
Asked about the MP’s legacy, Johnson said: “I think David’s legacy is multifarious - he did all sorts of things.
“He campaigned on endometriosis, on fuel poverty, on the registration of driving instructors, on children with learning disabilities - he has a tremendous, natural sympathy for people who needed help. He showed what a backbencher can do.
“He has a big legacy of things he actually achieved as a backbencher.”
Sir David served as an MP for 38 years and received a knighthood in 2015 for his political and public service.
The MP was interested in “animal welfare and pro-life” issues and he also called for Southend to be awarded city status during his time in parliament. This has now been granted in honour of his death.
After his death, MPs also called for his dog to be named ‘dog of the year’ in tribute and recently, his dog Vivian indeed won the accolade.
In a statement by his family, which is being read out by Widdecombe at the funeral, Sir David’s family said that their “hearts are shattered” and asked people to “set aside their differences and show kindness and love to all”.
“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.
“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 morning, Mark Francois, MP for Rayleigh and Wickford and close friend of Sir David, said when he arrived at the church: “I think today is an opportunity for the people of Southend to come together as a community to express their grief and sorrow for the loss of Sir David.
“The family have been greatly consoled from the outpouring of sympathy. He was my best friend in parliament.
“We were very close and if I’m honest, today is very emotional for me but I hope when I do my eulogy I will do justice.
“He was my friend but also a loving husband, father and fine parliamentarian. One of the privileges of knowing him was you never knew what he was going to do next.”
As well as the private funeral today, there will also be a funeral mass on Tuesday at the Roman Catholic Westminster Cathedral in London.
