More tributes to Sir David Amess

Sir David Amess MP supported so many causes, charities and organisations throughout his career. Since his tragic death hundreds of people have been coming forward to speak about the impact he had on their lives. Here are some the latest tributes:

Knights of Saint Columba - Southend-on-Sea

Damian Dillon writes: It is with such great sadness how we heard the news of Sir David's murder within our community area. He was not only a dedicated Catholic, but a man of the people who supported all faiths and cultures. We are proud he was a Knight of Saint Columba while representing his Basildon Constituency and a great supporter of the Knights of Saint Columba in Southend since 1997 - attending many of our events through the years with words of encouragement, support, and wisdom. A campaigner of Pro-Life and animal welfare issues, but also so much more than that. He supported the Churches Winter Night Shelters, Foodbanks, as well as the Music Man project, and surfers for cleaner sea water - to name but a few of the hundreds of projects he engaged with and supported.

Only a few years ago he invited all the Knights of Saint Columba at Southend, including our Chaplain, Father Jeff Woolnough, to the Houses of Parliament for a wonderful tour that included a Catholic Mass in the crypt - one of our brothers described it as, "the best day of his life!" Whatever your politics you couldn't help but like this charismatic warm and friendly man whose smile remained with you long after your encounter. We pray for the repose of Sir David's soul and that Our Lord will bring comfort to his grieving family.

Safe Passage

We're devastated by the news that David Amess MP has been killed. Our thoughts are with David's family and all those who loved him.

David often championed the rights of child refugees in his role as MP, and we are grateful for the support he showed us at Safe Passage. He believed in the need for safe routes for child refugees seeking sanctuary. We remember his support for our campaign to welcome child refugees, and his efforts to protect refugee family reunion after Brexit. We know that he will be greatly missed.

Coalition for Marriage

Colin Hart, Chairman of Coalition for Marriage writes: I was very sorry to hear of the tragic killing of Sir David Amess MP last Friday.

David was a man who devoted himself to doing what he believed was right both for the people he represented in Essex and for the country as a whole.

He understood the vital significance of marriage as being between a man and a woman. He believed that children need both a mother and a father. And he voted accordingly. When last year the Government sought to introduce easy divorce laws, he spoke against that too.

We are grateful to have had such a champion for marriage in the House of Commons. Despite his firm views, it is testament to his gentle and winsome character that he had good relationships with those who disagreed with him. His ability to get along with opponents is legendary, as the tributes to him from across the political spectrum have shown.

His family are very much in my thoughts, and the thoughts of all of us here at Coalition for Marriage.
Yours faithfully,

HOPE Not Hate

Nick Lowles, CEO of HOPE not Hate, writes: "The HOPE not hate team were shocked and devastated to hear of the horrific murder of Sir David Amess. His family and friends are in our thoughts and we wish to express our sincere condolences for their loss.

"This atrocious act has reopened existing wounds when it comes to fears about the safety of MPs and others in public life.

"We all have a role to play in improving the way we view our politicians, and to reject reactionary narratives of hate. It is telling that when news broke that the man arrested for the murder of Sir David Amess was a British man of Somalian heritage, the reaction of the far-right to the murder was one of joy and glee. This shows how quickly these types of atrocities can be exploited, becoming another tool for those who would spread hate in our society.

"At a time when people seek to use this terrible event to divide us as a society, we need to stand together to let everyone teetering on the sidelines of hate know that hope is always the answer. It is only by standing together against all forms of hate - be it far right or Islamist extremist - that we will truly protect our democracy and the people who work so hard to serve us."