THE
P RTAL
February 2019
Page 19
dangerous this substance is, and how it can’t easily be ‘We don’t know; we can’t answer your questions.’
detected, you realise that perhaps it was necessary to
take such precautions.
“The hospital did amazingly well. They were dealing
with something they hadn’t dealt with before, because
“We had visits from all the great and good from the nobody knew what it was to start with. I think it’s due
Prime Minister to the Cornwall’s. Everyone came to to their skill and care that it wasn’t a double murder if
see us and cheer us up. The bishop and the rector of St not a triple murder at the beginning. So yes, we are full
Thomas’, the civic church in the centre, were throwing of praise for them.
holy water everywhere, and we all thought we were
getting back to normal. Then of course, the second
“I don’t have the figures about how tourism
thing happened, which was a really bad set back, when dropped but you could see as you walked around the
these two people obviously picked up the substance town and market. The number of tourists certainly
which was in a perfume spray bottle which they picked dropped. People who might come from the countryside
out of a garbage bin.
to shop didn’t come either.
“They think it was picked up in some gardens, really
nice gardens with a children’s playground in it. She
sprayed this substance on to her and as a result, she
died. We don’t really hear much about him now but he
is in a pretty poor condition and we have no idea how
the Skripals are or where they are, or the policeman
who was also affected.” (He has since returned to work)
“There are lots of empty shops in the High Street
as there are in so many places; none of that would
have been helped by the attack. I think the cathedral
suffered because that very much depends on visitors.
“We say trying to get back to normal, but we have for
the last five or six years had a Christmas market like
everyone does. It’s been quite good. But this year they
“Another extraordinary thing, of course, was struggled to get people to take the stalls; only half as
immediately the Russian’s faces where all over the many were taken.
national press. How can that happen? It was certainly
“You know, you are looking for an unarticulated
a bungled thing. I cant imagine if it was really that
important to do this. Obviously, it was considered that attitude amongst people. They are not going to say that
important to kill them. I cant imagine you wouldn’t they are not going to Salisbury because of the attack, are
take every effort to cover your tracks, but they didn’t they? You just notice that things aren’t quite the same.”
really do that.
Chat over, Fr Keith took us into the City Centre to
“I had the media here one morning because this was see for ourselves. Salisbury really is a lovely place. We
the nearest church to where they lived. ‘Did I know drove right through the City Centre with no trouble at
them?’ Of course, they were unknown to us. I said all, and found a place for lunch. The Chapter House is
if they were anything, I would think they would be right by the side of the Cathedral. Here we had a lovely
Russian Orthodox so I told them there used to be a lunch. Do visit Salisbury, and why not try The Chapter
monthly Orthodox service in the city. I don’t know if it House for lunch?
still takes place, but they went off there.
Ecumenical Marian Pilgrimage Trust
“The people in Salisbury felt very sorry for the police
because after the second event we were away from
the snow and in the heat of the summer. There was a
policeman stationed every few yards all the way round
the edge of the gardens and so they were provided not
only with a seat but also with a gazebo to protect them
from the heat, it was quite extraordinary.
“The locals felt sorry for them and took them food
and hot drinks especially in the cold weather because
this went through the whole from March right through.
They were gradually replaced by security officers, there
were obviously firms brought in so the police could
return to their places where they normally work. But
they would not engage in conversation. They would
not, because they were not told anything. They said,
Registered Charity no. 1108173
Ecumenical Pilgrimage at Walsingham
Tuesday 19th - Friday 22nd February 2019
CATHOLIC, ANGLICAN, ORTHODOX AND FREE CHURCH
LITURGIES, TALKS AND DEVOTIONS
Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia (Orthodox)
HE Archbishop Edwin Adams (Papal Nuncio tbc)
Bishop Jonathan Goodall of Ebbsfleet (Anglican)
Prof Frances Young (Methodist) Preb Norman Wallwork (Methodist)
Eleanor Jackson (Society of Friends) Fr Peter Farrington (Coptic Orthodox)
Rev Dr Gareth Powell (Methodist) Fr Philip Corbett (Anglican)
Fr Kevin Alban O.Carm (Catholic) Michael Russell (Catholic)
Further details and booking form:
[email protected]
or online at: www.EcumenicalMarianPilgrimage.org.uk