HISTORY was made in one of Reading’s most historic locations.
On Friday, October 2, the annual Berkshire Judicial Service was held not in the Minster Church but in the ruins of Reading Abbey.
And normally there’s 600 guests for the annual service which is an act of worship that marks the traditional opening of the legal year.
But this time round there were just 26 socially distanced – and soggy – guests, representing those who maintain law and order through the administration of justice in Berkshire plus community and voluntary sector leaders.
The service began witha procession from Reading’s Crown Court steps to the remains of the Chapter House in the Abbey ruins, led by Under Sheriff, Jonathan Gater.
It includes judges, HHJ Edward Burgess QC, HHJ Paul Dugdale and HHJ Kirsty Real, the High Sheriff of Berkshire, Mary Riall and the High Sheriff’s chaplain, Andrew Storch.
Their arrival was marked by two trumpeters playing a fanfare.
The service’s theme was compassion, and saw a refugee, Ameer Mujahideen, and his 10-year-old son Yunis, speak about arriving in Reading, fearful and destitute, from Sri Lanka in 2012.
Four representatives of the Reading Community Gospel Choir sang acapella and The Bishop of Reading, the Right Revd Olivia Graham, spoke about the importance of compassion in the justice system and society as a whole.
Prayers were said by the High Sheriff’s chaplain and Dr Ashok Khare, chair of the Reading Hindu Centre.
Guests included the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, John Campbell and the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, James Puxley.
Mary Riall, High Sheriff of Berkshire, said: “It was wonderful to be able to come together in some way in this challenging year.
“The service was very moving in its simplicity and we were able to acknowledge the vital and hugely challenging work being done by our Judges and all those who maintain law and order in the county.
“Working within the Covid restrictions and then the bad weather required a big team effort and considerable Dunkirk spirit but we were delighted to be able to celebrate this occasion.”