Prayers for Amy Winehouse

flowers for Amy

Prayers were said on Sunday night for singer Amy Winehouse, in the north London community where she lived. Hundreds of people carrying flowers, candles and pictures quietly gathered all day outside her home in Camden Square, near the London Irish Centre.

At the Catholic church of Our Lady Help of Christians in Kentish Town, parish priest Fr Tom Forde mentioned Amy during the evening Mass.

Margaret Harvey, who is on the parish council and chair of governors of a Camden primary school said: "I was saddened and shocked to hear of the untimely death of Amy Winehouse last night. Being a near neighbour, I wandered down to Camden Square this morning to see about fifty or so young people and a few members of the press standing around. By mid afternoon there were more than 300 people in the area. Many had come with flowers and cards. There is now a candlit vigil there.

"Amy was a very popular and well known personality in the Camden area and always regarded it as her 'home'. Such a sad ending for a brilliantly talented young lady. May she rest in peace."

Margaret said: "Maybe her family and trustees might consider setting up an Amy Winehouse Foundation in her memory, to help young people kick their drug and alcohol addictions."

Parishioner Julia Forsythe said she wanted to see more done to stop young people taking drugs in the first place. "Most youth clubs have been closed in Camden, while drugs seem to be available on every street corner" she said.

Rev Cindy Kent, who runs an Anglican parish in north London said she hopes the case will highlight the need for addiction education. "It is so sad to see such a talented life cut short."

Church music leader Alan Ryan, said: "Amy Winehouse was a truly inspired musician, whose talent was ruined and overshadowed by her addictions."