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Tunisia massacre: funeral for British couple to take place Tunisia massacre: hundreds expected at British couple's funeral
(about 3 hours later)
One of the first funerals for Britons killed in the Tunisian beach massacre is due to be held on Friday. Hundreds of mourners are expected to congregate at a parish church in Cumbernauld, north Lanarkshire, on Friday afternoon for one of the first funerals for victims of the Tunisian beach massacre.
The Scottish couple Jim and Ann McQuire, from Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, were among 38 people, including 30 Britons, killed by a gunman in the holiday resort of Sousse on 26 June. Jim and Ann McQuire were among 38 people, including 30 Britons, shot dead in a terrorist attack at the holiday resort of Sousse on 26 June. Both recently retired, the couple had been treating themselves to a foreign holiday, and only booked the trip a fortnight before leaving.
Family and friends were due to attend the service for the “kind and gentle” couple at Abronhill church in their home town on Friday afternoon. Related: Tunisia beach attack: the victims
They had been active members of the church, where Ann McQuire, 64, sang and played guitar and Jim McQuire, 67, was captain of the 5th Cumbernauld Boys’ Brigade (BB) company for many years. Mourners will gather to pay their respects to the “kind and gentle” couple at the Church of Scotland’s Abronhill church. The McQuires were devoted members of the church community, with Ann McQuire, 63, singing and playing guitar. Her 66-year-old husband, a former shipyard worker, spent many years as captain of the 5th Cumbernauld Boys Brigade (BB) company.
The church has previously held prayer gatherings to help the community come to terms with the loss. The couple will be cremated at Daldowie crematorium in a private ceremony following the service. The church minister and family friend the Rev Joyce Keyes expressed thanks for expressions of support that have flooded in.
Speaking ahead of the service, Rev Joyce Keyes said: “The church has been inundated with messages and expressions of support in the form of flowers, cards, emails, prayers and words of comfort both for the McQuire family and for the church community. She said: “The church has been inundated with messages and expressions of support, in the form of flowers, cards, emails, prayers and words of comfort both for the McQuire family and for the church community. There have been messages from people who knew Ann and Jim, and from many who didn’t, even from a BB company in England.”
“Many people have been touched by the tragic deaths of people enjoying their holiday, even more so when they include folks you know – people from your own community.” The church has previously held prayer gatherings to help the local community come to terms with the loss, including one last Friday to coincide with the nationwide minute’s silence. A book of condolence was opened on Friday, which has already been signed by hundreds of people and will be available until after the funeral.
Paying tribute to the couple previously, the Church of Scotland minister said: “Ann and Jim were a kind and gentle couple who will be sorely missed by our congregation; for their willingness to share their musical talents, for their contributions to the Boys’ Brigade and for the fellowship we shared.” Two other Scots were killed in last month’s terrorist atrocity. Billy and Lisa Graham, from Bankfoot, near Perth, had been in Tunisia to celebrate her 50th birthday. Their funeral will take place at Perth crematorium on Monday.
A book of condolence at the church, which has already been signed by hundreds of people, is expected to remain open until after the funeral. The family of another British victim of the attack, Sue Davey, have confirmed that a service of thanksgiving will be held at St Editha’s church in her home town of Tamworth, Staffordshire, on 17 July. She was killed along with her partner, Scott Chalkley, of Derby.
Two other Scots were killed in last month’s terrorist atrocity. Three Irish nationals, two Germans, one Belgian, one Portuguese and one Russian also died in the attack.
Billy and Lisa Graham, from Bankfoot near Perth, died when gunman Seifeddine Rezgui opened fire. The funeral of the couple, who had been in Tunisia to celebrate Lisa Graham’s 50th birthday, will take place at Perth crematorium on Monday.
The family of another British victim of the attack, Sue Davey, have confirmed that a church service of thanksgiving will be held at St Editha’s in her home town of Tamworth, Staffordshire, on 17 July. Davey was killed along with her partner, Scott Chalkley, of Derby.
Last week, Britain paid tribute to those who were killed by holding a minute’s silence. Three Irish nationals, two Germans, one Belgian, one Portuguese and one Russian also died in the attack.