On Saturday 23rd October a flower laying ceremony as a mark of respect for the life and work of Sir David was made by representatives of Southend’s Muslim community and the Conservative Muslim Forum at Sir David’s constituency office in Leigh. Members of the Forum travelled four hours from Manchester to attend and the local Muslim group was led by the Imam of UKIM Southend Mosque. Steven Tinning, Assistant Minister of Leigh Road Baptist Church, invited members of other faith communities ‘to stand alongside our Muslim friends, and each other, in the wake of the tragic events of last Friday which have been reported as being, at least in part, motivated by extremist religious beliefs.’ Ministers or members from Catholic, Anglican, and Quaker congregations attended, as did Ruth Verrinder and Mark Churchward to represent Love Southend. After the flower-laying the Conservative Association invited the group into their lounge area and members of the group wrote in the book of condolence.
