Service of Hope at Southwark Cathedral

Richard Taylor, OBE, thanking all the people who have worked with the Trust over the past 20 years.

7th December 2021 would have been Damilola Taylor’s 32nd birthday. The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has agreed to designate the 7th of December in future as an annual Day of Hope to celebrate and encourage the work of the Damilola Taylor Trust and the Hope Collective.

A Service of Hope in Southwark Cathedral was attended by many people connected with the Damilola Taylor Trust (set up by Richard Taylor, OBE and his late wife Gloria) and the Hope Collective (which has grown out of the work of the Trust).

The service started with a song performed by Jermain Jackman and the Gospel Choir and Heather Small and the Gospel Choir performed during the service.

The Very Revd Andrew Nunn, Dean of Southwark welcomed everyone to the Cathedral and said that he committed the Cathedral to focus on supporting the objectives of the Day of Hope. He hoped that, over time, this would bear fruit as the Cathedral’s focus on LGBTQ+ rights over the last 30 years had contributed to changes in attitudes.

Samuel Kasumu, Ndidi Okenzie MBE and Dame Cressida Dick read lessons from the Bible and Fope Jegede read her poem The Champion’s Story.

Dr Martin Griffiths OBE of the Hope Collective spoke very movingly of Damilola’s desire to become a doctor. As a black man from south London, Dr Griffiths said he often thought about how Damilola’s life might have mirrored his own, with all the challenges he had faced, had Damilola not been killed so young.

Abba Bako, of the Damilola Taylor Trust’s Youth Advisory Board, spoke of how the work of the Hope Collective had developed from the work of the Trust.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, spoke of the role of the Trust and other charities in his drive to reduce knife crime in London.

Gary Trowsdale, the Damilola Taylor Trust’s Legacy Director, shared his memories of some of the Trust’s initiatives, particularly the Spirit of London Awards and spoke of his wish to revive this for a new generation.

Finally Richard Taylor thanked all people involved with the Trust over the years and said how grateful he was that the work that he and Gloria had started would be carried on.

The Bishop of Southwark, Christopher Chessun, gave the Blessing.