Sir David Amess: Community falls silent to remember MP

Southend has remembered Sir David Amess, a week after he was killed at a constituency surgery.

Sir David, 69, was stabbed to death shortly after midday last Friday, in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.

Residents and shopkeepers bowed their heads in silence, broken by applause and the release of blue balloons in memory of the Southend West MP.

Ali Harbi Ali, 25, is due at the Old Bailey charged with murder and preparing terrorist acts.

James Duddridge, the MP for Rochford and Southend East, said: "It is going to be very difficult not just for the family but for the whole community."

After the silence, he told mourners: "Speaking to Jo Cox's family, it took them a long time to recover and we must spend time together as a community and not be afraid to cry and share a cuddle, share a story, to share a funny story as well as a sensible story.

"I think that is one of the things that the Cox family said was really important - to remember a person and spend time together as a community.

Southend was granted city status in honour of Sir David, who had lobbied for the title for more than 20 years.

Ian Gilbert, leader of Southend Borough Council, said heartwarming stories of Sir David were shared at an "emotional" full council meeting on Thursday night.

"Pretty much everybody who has lived in Southend for some time has a story to share about him, he was part of the fabric of the town and touched many, many people," he said.

"I've been heartened by the way the community, quite spontaneously, has come together to support one another at this difficult time.

"I hope the honour of being accorded city status, which is something Sir David campaigned on tirelessly for many years, will be something that can help bring the community together and honour his memory."

A week ago, Sir David was meeting constituents, as he loved to do, at Belfairs Methodist Church. He'd been chatting and laughing with locals outside the church before he was killed.

He died as he had lived, serving people, for nearly 40 years. He had known five prime ministers.

So many people I have met in the past few days have stories of how he had helped them. So many here considered him a friend.

This silence is the idea of businesses from the Belfairs area. There is a parade of shops here where he was so well known, just as he was across the town and the borough, and beyond.

There is sadness, and a deep shared sympathy with Sir David's wife and children.

Among those gathered was Father Jeffrey Woolnough, who had rushed to the church when he heard that Sir David, a devout Catholic, had been stabbed in the hope of giving him the last rites.

He was unable to deliver the sacrament as the area had become a crime scene.

He said Sir David spoke to people from all parties, races and religions, and "it was such a great gift and it was tireless because it was sincere".

Butcher Tony Phillips, who closed up his shop for the tribute, said: "We are all just so very sad that he is no longer with us.

"We used to see him quite regularly. He used to come in to the shop every now and then to see if we had any problems. He will be sadly missed."

Estate agent Rob Cooke said: "Sir David was very much part of the community and obviously we are just gutted with what has happened. I just wanted to pay my respects and to think about him and his family.

"I think it is going to take quite a long time for the community to recover from what has happened."