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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Alan Greaves murder: Anniversary service at site of killing | Alan Greaves murder: Anniversary service at site of killing |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The widow of a murdered church organist invited the community to join her in a service on the street where he was attacked last Christmas Eve. | The widow of a murdered church organist invited the community to join her in a service on the street where he was attacked last Christmas Eve. |
| Alan Greaves, 68, was beaten to death on his way to the midnight service at St Saviour's Church in Sheffield. | Alan Greaves, 68, was beaten to death on his way to the midnight service at St Saviour's Church in Sheffield. |
| Jonathan Bowling and Ashley Foster, both 22, were jailed for the killing. | Jonathan Bowling and Ashley Foster, both 22, were jailed for the killing. |
| Mr Greaves' widow Maureen said the service at Greengates Lane, High Green, was at the same time and place her husband was killed. | |
| Posters and leaflets were distributed inviting the people of High Green to attend the event. | Posters and leaflets were distributed inviting the people of High Green to attend the event. |
| Speaking before the service, The vicar of High Green, the Reverend Canon Simon Bessant, said: "We cannot ignore the anniversary of the attack upon Alan, but we don't want to simply hold another memorial event. | Speaking before the service, The vicar of High Green, the Reverend Canon Simon Bessant, said: "We cannot ignore the anniversary of the attack upon Alan, but we don't want to simply hold another memorial event. |
| "So, rather than have our usual midnight service, we have decided to go out to the place where such a dark and brutal event took place last Christmas Eve. | "So, rather than have our usual midnight service, we have decided to go out to the place where such a dark and brutal event took place last Christmas Eve. |
| "We don't believe that darkness should have the last word, so we are going to have a celebration of light at the place and time that Alan died." | "We don't believe that darkness should have the last word, so we are going to have a celebration of light at the place and time that Alan died." |
| Mrs Greaves said: "I can't bear the thought of remembering Alan walking in the darkness alone last Christmas Eve, so having as many people present with me will be a great comfort. | Mrs Greaves said: "I can't bear the thought of remembering Alan walking in the darkness alone last Christmas Eve, so having as many people present with me will be a great comfort. |
| "Celebrating the light of Christ at Christmas time was what Alan was intending to do last year, but never made it. This year we can do that for him. | "Celebrating the light of Christ at Christmas time was what Alan was intending to do last year, but never made it. This year we can do that for him. |
| "As we celebrate light at Christmas, I've asked that we also pray for Jonathan and Ashley, who killed my husband. | "As we celebrate light at Christmas, I've asked that we also pray for Jonathan and Ashley, who killed my husband. |
| "I want them to know that light will always overcome darkness and to find that light for themselves". | "I want them to know that light will always overcome darkness and to find that light for themselves". |
| Large flaming torches marked the site of the killing and everybody who attended was offered a hand-held candle. | Large flaming torches marked the site of the killing and everybody who attended was offered a hand-held candle. |
| Mr Bessant said: "Whilst we will be remembering Alan, we also want to celebrate. So carol singing and eating and drinking seem to be totally appropriate. I think that this is what Alan would have wanted us to do. | Mr Bessant said: "Whilst we will be remembering Alan, we also want to celebrate. So carol singing and eating and drinking seem to be totally appropriate. I think that this is what Alan would have wanted us to do. |
| "This tragic story started last Christmas Eve with an act of deep darkness. Exactly a year later we intend to bring it to a conclusion with a blaze of light." | "This tragic story started last Christmas Eve with an act of deep darkness. Exactly a year later we intend to bring it to a conclusion with a blaze of light." |