World Day of Remembrance 2024

Because Your Life Counts held a memorial service for the second consecutive year to help remember those lost to road traffic collisions. The memorial service was yet again hard hitting and allowed our community to come together to support one another. Below you can view the order of service and view the involvement from key individuals across the road safety sector:

Reverend Jennifer Wickham welcomed the service

BYLC Member Glenn Hartwell then introduced the charity and the purpose of the memorial service.

BYLC Member Jo Smith then read:

When I go,
don’t learn to live without me,
just learn to live with my love,
in a different way.
And if you need to see me,
close your eyes,
or look in your shadow,
when the sun shines,
I’m there.
Sit with me in the quiet and you will know,
that I did not leave.
There is no leaving when a soul is blended with another.
When I go,
don’t learn to live without me,
just learn to look for me in the moments.
I will be there.

By Donna Ashworth

Act of Remembrance

Let us remember all those who are in our hearts today, those whom we have known and loved and those whose names are unknown to us; those who have lost their lives on the roads, those who have been hurt in their bodies, minds or emotions, and all whose lives have been damaged in any way. Let us entrust them to God’s infinite mercy and goodness and let us surround them now with our compassion and love.

The remembrance hearts with the names of loved ones were brought to the front by Councillor Gavin Lloyd.

A moment of Silence.

David Moorcroft OBE Deputy Lord Lieutenant lead the Moment of Silence. Mr Moorcroft then invited members to light a candle in memory of a loved one

A further address:

Alistair Robinson, Transport Behaviour Specialist, Transport for West Midlands (TFWM) then addressed those in attendance.

Support from the Local Council

RT Honourable Taiwo Owatemi Member of Parliament Coventry North West continued the service off with a Bible reading: Isaiah 42:5-7, 16.

Support from Local Doctors

Dr Chunn Kidd Cheung, an Emergency Medicine Doctor based at UHCW supported the event. Giving his account of what it is like to deal with road traffic collision first hand as a doctor.

The service was then ended with a few closing remarks. With Candles lit and the hall filled with warmth, those who had lost their lives remembered. BYLC would like to extend our thanks to all those involved with the service. With the support of the local community, the local emergency services and the council we can really make a difference. The service was about allowing loved ones to be remembered as well as members pledging to each other to do their bit to make the roads as safe as possible.