AB Walker holds annual service of remembrance

The Walker family joined hundreds of other people lighting candles in memory of their loved ones at a service at held at Anglican church, Reading Minster.

The annual service of remembrance was organised by funeral directors AB Walker and was led by the Bishop of Reading, the Rt Revd Andrew Proud.

AB Walker director Matthew Walker said he hoped the service would “provide reassurance to those attending that they are not alone”.

He also expressed his thanks to the Bishop of Reading who has led the service for a number of years. The service was attended by Lord Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire James Puxley and the mayor of Reading, councillor Debs Edwards.

Matt Allwright read a poem, Remember Me by Margaret Mead. Refreshments were served after the service.

AB Walker is one of Berkshire’s oldest family businesses and has been supporting bereaved families for nearly 200 years. It is run by the fifth generation of the same family.

The Service of Remembrance is part of the aftercare service offered by the funerary business which also includes the Link Bereavement Course.

Anyone in Berkshire and South Oxfordshire who has been bereaved and feels they can benefit can apply to go on a six week group course. The Link was set up in partnership with the charity Cruse Bereavement Care and the programme is free of charge.

AB Walker has branches in Reading, Bracknell, Wokingham, Henley-on-Thames, Thatcham, Tilehurst, Caversham and Maidenhead.

Walker said: “This service is an act of togetherness that allows us to reflect on love and lives shared. Although our loss is unique to each of us we can share that common thread of being on that journey, of being forced to adjust our lives to a loss of those we love.”