Flower-laying in Reading marks second anniversary of Forbury Gardens attacks

Monday (June 20) will mark the two-year anniversary of the attacks at Reading's Forbury Gardens and a minute's silence and flower laying ceremony will take place there from 7pm to remember the victims who lost their lives and those injured in the park on 20 June 2020.

On a warm summer evening, as friends and families relaxed in Reading's Forbury Gardens enjoying the easing of lockdown restrictions, Khairi Saadallah launched a knife attack that lasted less than 30 seconds. He has been jailed for the rest of his life for the murder of friends James Furlong, 36, David Wails, 49, and 39-year-old Joe Ritchie-Bennett, as well as the attempted murder of three others.

Two years to the day after those horrific events, the town will remember them.

A memorial service for family, friends and invited guests will take place at St Laurence’s Church at 6pm after which attendees will make their way to Forbury Gardens for the minute's silence at 7pm, alongside a flower laying ceremony led by families and friends, with Mayor of Reading Rachel Eden and Borough Council leader Jason Brock.

Members of the public can attend the ceremony in Forbury Gardens and are welcome to bring their own flowers to lay as part of the ceremony, which will also be livestreamed on the council Facebook page.

At 9.45pm, Reading’s historic Maiwand Lion – which quickly became a symbol of the town’s solidarity in the days and weeks that followed the attacks – will be poignantly lit up in memory of James, Joe and David and everyone affected.

People are encouraged to contribute to the #ReadingTogether fund www.crowdfunder.co.uk/reading-together-memorial

Contributions will go towards the permanent memorial.