Anti-gun crime organisations from across the UK paid tribute to Pat Regan, the mother and anti-violence campaigner, whose funeral took place last week.

Organisations who worked closely with Pat Regan included Bringing Hope, Mothers Against Violence Manchester & Redcar, Families for Peace, Don’t Trigger and MAMA (Mothers Against Murder and Aggression).

Together they wrote a tribute saying: “As coordinator for Mothers Against Violence (MAV) in Yorkshire Pat tirelessly channelled her own grief to effect change, challenge policies and to divert children and young people from lifestyles glorifying knife and gun crime. We will miss her terribly, our condolences go out to her family”

“Pat was very genuine, dedicated to her work,” said the Revd. Robin Thompson, one of the founders of Bringing Hope. “She didn’t try to pretty things up, whether she was talking to the prime minister or a mother in pain. What always came across was that she was a thoroughly loving mum.”

His colleague the Revd Carver Anderson said: “Pat left a lot of us mourning but a huge legacy will come from her life. Things are already happening and they will carry on. She was a catalyst for reformation and change. People’s lives were changed through her life and they are changed in her death. She epitomised transformation and we have seen with our eyes that that transforming work in carrying on.” 

Ends

Notes to Editors:

Robin Thompson and Carver Anderson are founders of Bringing Hope, a charity set up three years ago to offer the churches response to guns, drugs, knives and gangs.

Details on the work of Bringing Hope Can be found here: http://www.bringinghope.co.uk/ or contact the Revd Carver Anderson on 0121 772 3444

Issued on Behalf of Bringing Hope, Mothers Against Violence Manchester & Redcar, Families for Peace, Don’t Trigger and MAMA (Mothers Against Murder and Aggression.

From: The Archbishop of York’s Office