A MEMORIAL service to remember the lives of those killed on Warwickshire’s roads’ is being held at St Mary’s Church in Warwick.
The service, organised by Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership (WRSP), is being held on the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims – Sunday November 20 – between 2.30pm and 4.30pm.
The service will also be live streamed on St Mary’s Church Facebook page.
The church will open from 2.30pm to provide the opportunity for anyone to light a candle and take some time for silent reflection.
While the service, open to all faiths and led by led by Canon Peter Holliday, will start promptly at 3pm and last no longer than one hour.
The service will include an introduction to the World Day of Remembrance, songs and hymns, a reading by the Chair of WRSP Philip Seccombe and a minute’s silence.
Senior Family Liaison Officer Karen Powell will be speaking on behalf of victims while Police force Chaplain Matthew Hopley will speak on behalf of the emergency services.
Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership has also created an online space for people to leave a tribute at https://warksroadsafety.org/warwickshireremembers/
Sheila Vale’s life was totally changed when she was left paralysed after being hit by a car while walking her dog in October 2019. A moving video of Sheila, from Studley, was filmed last year telling her story of recovery after she suffered life-changing injuries.
At the service, WRSP also plan to unveil designs for a permanent memorial for people like Sheila.
In Warwickshire in 2021, 15 people lost their lives and 215 people were seriously injured in road traffic collisions.
Philip Seccombe, Chair of WRSP and Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire, said: “The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, on 20 November provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the magnitude and impact that road traffic collisions have on society. It is still a sad fact that far too many people are killed or suffer life-changing injuries on our roads each year.
“The service allows people from all backgrounds, faiths and beliefs who have been affected by a tragedy on our roads to come together and have a moment for reflection. It also allows the wider community of Warwickshire to show solidarity and support for those who have been bereaved.
“The event also acts as a reminder to us that all deaths and injuries on our roads can be prevented and that we all have a responsibility to use the highway network safely. Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership has set a target of halving all road casualties in the county by 2030 and, ultimately, we want to get to a position where no-one suffers the loss of a loved-one on our roads. That will need everyone to play their part and become safer road users and as a Partnership we are working hard to achieve this.”
