Peacetalks.Pdf
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Page 2 Long-term sustainable recovery is needed after terrorist incidents 25 years after the terrorist attack In the 1990’s across the world. We offer extremism. This means that we must Warrington we have been remembering bereaved families, those injured and educate our children in peace building, and reflecting on the loss of Tim’s and witnesses a clinically advised health and recognise acts of kindness, celebrate Johnathan’s lives. We also remember, well-being approach combined with diversity and challenge hate and with by reading Colin and Wendy’s book ‘Tim: specialist advice in social and welfare your support, we will continue to do this. An Ordinary Boy’, how they responded matters. Every person receives a personal #WeStandTogether. in the days after the bombing. Colin care plan and access to a support and Wendy’s desire to create a charity to caseworker and this free, confidential help others affected by terrorism in the service is backed by specialist events future was partly driven by the lack of and access to private social media, the support available to them in 1993. enabling survivors of terrorism to cope and recover after their personal tragedy. In March 2018, we discovered, from Lord Kerslake’s report into the Manchester Our work is vital, but we cannot do it Arena attack, how first responders dealt without the help of all our supporters. with the Manchester attack, and also On March 20, Warrington came together that some things have still not changed. in solidarity, to remember 1993 and soon it will be the 1st anniversary of The Peace Foundation is calling for a the Manchester attack, when we will long-term sustainable approach to remember the people who lost their terrorism attack recovery. The Peace lives, the injured, and those affected Foundation operates the national in the Manchester bomb. With your Survivors Assistance Network, a free and support and donations, our Foundation confidential clinically informed service, will continue to help the many people available to any person resident in Great who live with the consequences of Britain, or British people abroad, who recent terrorist attacks. have been affected by acts of terrorism. Immediately following the attack on Since 1995, when it was founded by Manchester, the humanitarian response Colin and Wendy, the Foundation has and help of so many people was drawn upon what it learned from ‘the unprecedented. However, civil society Troubles’ in Britain and Ireland, as well and government must act together, if Nick Taylor, CEO Tim Parry as best practice which has evolved since we are to prevent further acts of violent Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation New Patron The Foundation would like to welcome Vickie Sharpe as one of our new Patrons. Vickie was injured in the Manchester Arena bombing and came to the Foundation to get help from our Survivors Assistance Network Service (SAN). The Survivors Assistance Network Over the past 12 months, Vickie has helped to raise funds to support other victims and The Foundations Survivors Assistance The Foundation has 17 years’ experience to enable them to get the support that she Network service (SAN) is a free and working with victims of the Northern received from the Foundation. confidential clinically informed service, Ireland ‘Troubles ‘as well as those available to any person resident in Great affected by 7/7, Paris and Tunisia. It Britain, or British people abroad, who offers bereaved families, those injured may be affected by acts of terrorism. in the attack and witnesses, a clinically advised health and well-being approach The Foundation has handled over 750 combined with specialist advice in individual referrals, including members of nearly 400 families, since the social and welfare matters. Every person Manchester attack on 22nd May 2017. receives a personal care plan and access We are also helping those affected by to a caseworker as part of a free and other 2017 incidents in Barcelona and confidential service. The service includes London Westminster Bridge, Borough access to private social media enabling Market and Parsons Green. survivors of terrorism to cope and recover after such tragic events. If you have been affected by an act of terror and would like our help, please call the SAN team on 01925 581240. Page 3 My letter to Tim My Letter to Tim was prompted by a Reporter from the Liverpool Echo, who asked me if I felt I could write such a letter on the 25th anniversary of my son’s death. I said I could, and here it is... To My Son, Tim and I set up a wonderful charity which is named after you and three-year-old Today, it is 25 long years since you were Johnathan Ball who died on that awful fatally injured by a bomb in Bridge Street. day. It is 25 long years since the very last time Seven years after we lost you, we opened I gazed upon your smiling face. a unique building named after you and Johnathan. It is a Peace Centre. No, it is It is 25 long years since I last heard you THE Peace Centre. It is the only Peace speak. Centre in this country and, so far as we know, it is the ONLY Peace Centre It is 25 long years since I last held you. anywhere in the whole world, and it You live on in so many ways. is your Peace Centre Tim. It is a living It has been 25 long years of the pain of memorial to you Tim and to Johnathan. Of course, whatever may have followed missing you. after we lost you, you would have lived Many good people supported us after on through your close family, but now, It has been 25 long years, which is more we lost you Tim, and they gave us the you have a family of millions. Your name than double the time we had you with strength to set up our charity in your is a symbol for peace just as I said that I us. name. hoped it would be, when I spoke at your funeral. Each of us – me, your Mum, your brother Many good people help us today and Dom, your sister Abbi, your cousins, every day, to keep your charity and your Since we lost you, your grandparents uncles, aunts and your dearest friends – Peace Centre going. have followed on. Grandad Eric went all miss you and never ever forget how first and was followed by your Nanna huge a part of our lives you were…and, Many thousands of people have been Betty and Grandad John. They lie with be assured, always will be. helped by your charity Tim. Their lives you overlooking Warrington, and when have been made better and safer thanks we visit where you lie we remember you But memories of when you were with to you, and we do it all in your name. all, including the one grandparent you us, precious as they are, will always be never met, my mother and your Nanna, shrouded in deep sadness that you had Your school photograph smiles down Lucy. I hope you have met her in heaven these 25 years stolen from you, and you on everyone who sets foot in the Peace with Eric, Betty and John. have missed so much. Centre or takes part in our peace work because your face is on everything we Rest easy Tim and be assured that you You have not shared the joy of the produce in print and on our website. have touched the lives of many people… birth of your three nieces and your one most of whom you never met, but they nephew. So, who and what would you have have met you and they thank you for become Tim on this day, at the age of 37 what you have given them. You will never ever hear them call you years and 200 days? Uncle Tim, but they do, and they do so It is 25 long years since I last saw you, often. Would you be a husband or partner to heard you and held you my son, but you someone you loved to share your life are never far. You will be with us all until They walk in the path that you walked. with? I think so. the time comes for us to join you and see They have all attended the same schools you, hear you and hold you once again. as you did. They often hear you named in Would you be a father to one, or more their school, whether as a mark of respect, children? I think so. With eternal love, or because of a special anniversary and, of course, the High School established a Would you be highly educated, with a Your Dad, who is proud that you are his memorial garden in your name. career in which you excelled? I think so. Son x You were the first name in the wall which Would you still have the passion you had marks the garden – though, sadly, more as a 12-year-old boy for sport? I think so. children than I would have ever expected have joined you in that wall, with you at Would you have brought up your son or its centre. sons or daughters to have the passion you shared with Dom, with me, with Two years after we lost you, your Mum your Grandad Eric, for Everton Football Club, and would you smile to know that Everton made a trophy, the ‘Tim Parry Trophy’, which Dom and I present every year at Goodison to the best player in the Everton Cup Final? I know so! So you see Tim, that your life and memory is a beacon to so many others.