Ozell

A powerful evening begun by opening church for prayer - with waves of young people, Ozell’s friends coming in to light candles and mourn. Then as we happened to be going down the hill to pray his family arrived with flowers.

After lots of waiting around for the site to be cleaned and the police and forensic barriers to be lifted, everyone congregated around the bus stop where he died.

Then his Dad spoke to the young people - incredibly moving - telling them to live lives worth living, not get involved in situations where there are only losers and no winners, and that regardless of whether someone is from another postcode or school - it makes no difference - they are just another person that happens to live in a different place. With quotes from the Bible and Bob Marley, touches of humour, emotional references to the siblings Ozell has left behind and a lot of stern words and warnings!

Then people hung around chatting, church brought down hot drinks and food and kept open so people could use the facilities and light candles. Was glad we could do something helpful for their community when something so tragic had happened to them because their son happened to come into our community!