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London Bridge victims Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones remembered in services | London Bridge victims Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones remembered in services |
(32 minutes later) | |
Funeral services have taken place to remember the two victims of the London Bridge attack. | Funeral services have taken place to remember the two victims of the London Bridge attack. |
Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, were stabbed to death by Usman Khan at a prisoner rehabilitation event on 29 November. | Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, were stabbed to death by Usman Khan at a prisoner rehabilitation event on 29 November. |
Family and friends celebrated Mr Merritt's life at his funeral at Great St Mary's Church in Cambridge. | Family and friends celebrated Mr Merritt's life at his funeral at Great St Mary's Church in Cambridge. |
A memorial service for Miss Jones also took place at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Stratford-upon-Avon. | A memorial service for Miss Jones also took place at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Stratford-upon-Avon. |
Her mother Michelle Jones, her grandmother and other family members had earlier attended a private funeral. | Her mother Michelle Jones, her grandmother and other family members had earlier attended a private funeral. |
Mr Merritt and Miss Jones were at a conference organised by the University of Cambridge programme called Learning Together when Khan attacked them with a knife in Fishmongers' Hall. | Mr Merritt and Miss Jones were at a conference organised by the University of Cambridge programme called Learning Together when Khan attacked them with a knife in Fishmongers' Hall. |
Two women and a man were also injured before Khan was shot dead by armed officers on London Bridge. | Two women and a man were also injured before Khan was shot dead by armed officers on London Bridge. |
Mr Merritt's girlfriend Leanne O'Brien told his funeral service the pair had been "inseparable" and that he gave her "the best two and a half years of my life". | Mr Merritt's girlfriend Leanne O'Brien told his funeral service the pair had been "inseparable" and that he gave her "the best two and a half years of my life". |
"I'll miss your big heart and how loved you made me feel. Most of all I'll miss a future that we had planned together," she added. | "I'll miss your big heart and how loved you made me feel. Most of all I'll miss a future that we had planned together," she added. |
Mr Merritt's father David said the family had received letters from prisoners praising his son who worked for the rehabilitation programme Learning Together. | Mr Merritt's father David said the family had received letters from prisoners praising his son who worked for the rehabilitation programme Learning Together. |
"Jack's death was a tragedy but his short life was a triumph," he added. | |
Among the mourners was musician Nick Cave, who performed Into My Arms at the end of the service. | Among the mourners was musician Nick Cave, who performed Into My Arms at the end of the service. |
Friends and family of Miss Jones, who volunteered for Learning Together, were among 500 people gathered at a private memorial service. | Friends and family of Miss Jones, who volunteered for Learning Together, were among 500 people gathered at a private memorial service. |
There were readings by her uncle Phil Jones, who read Psalm 121, and her mother who recited Nicole Lyons' I Hope That Someday When I Am Gone. | There were readings by her uncle Phil Jones, who read Psalm 121, and her mother who recited Nicole Lyons' I Hope That Someday When I Am Gone. |
Rev Michael Price, deputy headteacher of Bloxham School where she had studied, said Miss Jones was a "life-shaper" and a woman of "courage". | Rev Michael Price, deputy headteacher of Bloxham School where she had studied, said Miss Jones was a "life-shaper" and a woman of "courage". |
"She made me laugh - she could be funny, she could be very funny," he said. | "She made me laugh - she could be funny, she could be very funny," he said. |
A performance of I Dreamed A Dream, from the musical Les Miserables, was followed by the James Blunt track The Greatest to conclude the service. | A performance of I Dreamed A Dream, from the musical Les Miserables, was followed by the James Blunt track The Greatest to conclude the service. |
In his end-of-year message, Cambridge University vice-chancellor Stephen Toope said the "unspeakably tragic loss" of Mr Merritt and Miss Jones had "hurt us deeply". | In his end-of-year message, Cambridge University vice-chancellor Stephen Toope said the "unspeakably tragic loss" of Mr Merritt and Miss Jones had "hurt us deeply". |
"I ask that we do not let the manner of Saskia and Jack's deaths eclipse the manner in which they lived their lives and helped others to do so," he said. | "I ask that we do not let the manner of Saskia and Jack's deaths eclipse the manner in which they lived their lives and helped others to do so," he said. |
"As we prepare for the holiday period, let us instead remember the values they embodied." | "As we prepare for the holiday period, let us instead remember the values they embodied." |