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Road Traffic Victims Remembered at Liverpool Service

The names of people from Merseyside and beyond who lost their lives in road crashes were read aloud as part of a special service of remembrance on Sunday 17 November.

It marked the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims and was held in the Concert Room at Liverpool's St George's Hall, attended by more than 200 people including many families and friends of those who have died or been injured on our roads.

Mayor of Neston, Cllr Dominic Roberts was one of many dignitaries who attended the commemoration, alongside the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Anna Rothery, the High Sheriff David Steer, Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Kennedy, Assistant Chief Constable Jon Roy and Chief Fire Officer Phil Garrigan.

The Mayor of Neston, Cllr Dominic Roberts and Pauline Fielding, at Sunday's service.

The service was conducted by the Rector of Liverpool, the Revd Canon Dr Crispin Pailing and the address was given by Sir Mark Hedley, a retired High Court Judge.

Following the service, five doves were released at the memorial to road crash victims in St John's Gardens, to signify the five people who are killed on our country's roads each day.

Organised by the national charity for road crash victims, RoadPeace, the day of remembrance was a chance to reflect on the lives lost, as well as the effects such tragedies have on families and friends. The event was organised locally by Pauline Fielding from Liverpool. Pauline, who is a RoadPeace trustee, lost her son Andrew in 1994 at the age of 18 in a crash on A540 Chester High Road in Neston caused by a driver who fled the scene and has never been traced.

Pauline said: "Crashes on our roads claim the lives of our loved ones and leave a trail of devastation in their wake. The victims are in our thoughts every day and each year we join together to honour their memory with the service of remembrance.

"It helps keep their memory alive and is a constant reminder to everyone that our roads are dangerous places where there is an unacceptably high death toll due to dangerous driving.

"We invited people to pay tribute to those who have been lost. We want people to spread the message that many of these deaths could have been prevented."

The Mayor of Neston, Cllr Dominic Roberts, said: "It was a privilege to be able to support Pauline and represent Neston at the service on Sunday. It was deeply moving and brought home just how fragile our lives are and that the momentary decisions we take when driving, can have such a devastating impact.

"I would urge all of us to consider how we drive, keep safety in mind and I hope never to have to read about a serious or fatal collision, particularly on Neston's roads."  

Mayor of Liverpool Cllr Anna Rothery said: "When it comes to keeping people safe on our roads, we all have a part to play. It can be by slowing down and sticking to the speed limit, not using your phone at the wheel, not drink-driving and giving the road your full attention every time you drive.

"The service of remembrance offers us the chance to count the human cost of such carelessness and reaffirm our commitment to doing all we can to eradicate deaths on our roads. It is an honour for me to attend the event and illustrates how we as a city stand in solidarity with those who are left behind."

A lady who travelled from Cumbria in remembrance of her daughter who died in a road crash said: "It was a beautiful ceremony and I was so grateful to release a dove as my daughter will be 21 this week."

 

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