Benjamin Murphy

Update From the Rector
Towards the end of October, we held the annual Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance in memory for people who have died as a result of treatment with contaminated blood products.  St Botolph’s church is home to the national memorial which takes the form of an attractive icon of St Luke the physician.
The service is always a poignant, deeply moving event, especially this year after the publication of the results into the public inquiry into the tragedy.
Below we print an edited version of my address at the service which will give you a sense of the suffering and mistreatment those affected and infected have endured.

The Address
“This was not an accident”, “this was not an accident” – the words of Sir Brian Langstaff, at the publication of the findings of the six years of investigation into the Infected Blood scandal.  “This was not an accident.”
On the same day that Sir Brian delivered his findings, the then Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak stood up in the House of Commons, apologised on behalf of the Government and the nation, and declared the day as “a day of shame for the British state.”
Once again, it has been some year.  The excoriating light of truth has at last been shone on the scandal which has caused so much pain in your lives.
We must give credit to Sir Brian for the professional, forensic and empathetic approach, and for his grasp of the scale and depth of suffering caused.  He recognised that treatment with infected blood products caused many, many people to suffer in addition to those infected – partners, family, children, friends – some by being infected themselves, some by having to watch loved ones die, some by having to give their lives to caring, and almost everyone, infected and affected, suffering in almost every aspect of your lives.  He recognised you, and your suffering.
There are, I know, different opinions of some aspects of the recommendations in the report and how they are being handled by the Government, particularly in relation to compensation.  In some ways the conclusion is nuanced.  But, despite that, the publication of the findings broke the scandal into national and public consciousness.  At long last, the truth was recognised, is recognised, and blame attributed.  But, where does that vindication, that validation leave you all?
For each of you, your suffering, your hurt and pain, your confusion is unique.  Only you know how you feel.  However, you should endeavour to take some comfort in the fact that the veil on the scandal has now been lifted.  What you have been saying all along, for years, for decades is true.  You have been heard.  Other people, family, friends, strangers, the younger generation now start to understand what happened to their family.  None of this lessens what you have suffered and experienced, nor should it.  A wrong, a momentous and catastrophic wrong was committed to you and your loved ones.  No recognition, no compensation can ameliorate that, can take away your pain.
I have been astounded over the years how each of you individually, and jointly as a community, have maintained composure and dignity despite the lies and the denials of others.  Despite the neglect which has been shown to you and your loved ones.  That unity you have brings with it sincere mutual support.  That support for each other becomes even more important when national attention is focused on you. 
May I encourage you to work to strengthen that supportive unity amongst yourselves?  Even if some opinions and understandings may differ, support each other.   Your real-life and an on-line community has strived to see justice done.  Now, inevitably, the public and legal acknowledgement, and the publication of the findings of the Inquiry, which has been a massive part, at times an overwhelming part of your lives, will have a psychological impact on many.  It will create a void for many.  We must recognise that illness is not just physical, it affects the mind and mental welfare.  Please look after yourselves and each other.
We meet today, as we do each year to honour and remember those who have died because of receiving infected blood products, and to recognise too those who have suffered in so many different ways from the scandal.  We gather to comfort and support one another in the now publicly affirmed knowledge that what happened to you was not an accident.  It was not an accident.
With God’s love and blessing,
Fr David

CHRISTMAS 2024

There will be a full listing of Advent and Christmas services, carol services, concerts and events in our December newsletter, but here are some dates you may wish to put in your diaries now:

Thursday 5 December at 1.10 pm: Advent Carol Service
with St Botolph’s Choir

Thursday 12 December at 1.10 pm: Parish Carol Service
with St Botolph’s Choir and the Choir of the Coopers’ Company and Coborn School

Friday 20 December at 5.30 pm: Carols by Candelight
a short and joyous evening service with St Botolph’s Choir

Tuesday 24 December at 11.00 am: Choral Mass of Christmas and Blessing of the Crib
with St Botolph’s Choir