Ramsgate Pride holds one-minute silence for local couple killed in Air India plane crash

KentOnline / KMTV

Ramsgate Pride began with a one-minute silence to remember local couple Jamie and Fiongal Greenlaw Meek, who died in the Air India Boeing 787 crash. The pair were much-loved in the community and were due to take part in this year’s event. Singer-songwriter Kate Nash - who was headlining today's event - joined in on the tributes.   Gabriel Morris reports...

Transcript

00:00Marching through Ramsgate, the town celebrated its second Pride event this weekend.

00:05But this year's celebration came with a heavy heart.

00:08Just two days before the event, Jamie and Fingal Greenlaw Meek boarded the Air India flight that crashed.

00:15The couple lost their lives, aged just 45 and 39.

00:20Before the music began, the crowd fell silent for a minute to honour their memory.

00:24Jamie and Fingal were set to play a big role in this year's Pride.

00:32But organisers say they knew the couple wouldn't have wanted the event counselled

00:36and believe their electric spirit lives on in every moment.

00:40They were basically part of our team. They were going to be hosting the Wellbeing Zone today.

00:46So, you know, it's a bittersweet day really for us.

00:50But they would want this vibe, wouldn't they?

00:51Exactly.

00:51This is exactly what they would have wanted, is for us to enjoy ourselves like this.

00:55Yeah, and to celebrate really. They were into spirituality.

00:58It's like they weren't about being sad.

01:00No.

01:06Singer-songwriter Kate Nash headlined today's event.

01:10She rose to fame in the noughties with hits like Foundations.

01:13After addressing the crowd from a community stage, she paid tribute to Jamie and Fingal.

01:18I think that these are important times to feel the support of a community

01:23and remember that a community is about a bunch of individuals

01:27and to support each other through difficult times, you know,

01:33because, again, I think it just really reminds you of your humanity

01:36and the fragility of being human and that this...

01:39We don't know, like, how long we're going to be here for

01:42and so we should try to love each other.

01:45Friends of the couple stood among the crowd in Ramsgate.

01:48Their sudden loss felt deeply across the community,

01:52front and centre of today's pride.

01:54The community has lost a huge couple in Thanet, particularly in Ramsgate.

01:59And, like I say, my thoughts and prayers and love really goes out to their friends

02:02and family at this difficult time.

02:04My heart goes out to her family. It's devastating, truly.

02:06Honestly, it's truly devastating. It almost makes you speechless.

02:12It's a good thing, maybe, that we'll help bring them together, to be fair.

02:15You know, perhaps people will, I don't know, celebrate the event

02:19while still thinking of all the sad people that lost their lives.

02:23When I go to Pride, I get to do it for other people who just, yeah,

02:28who haven't got that chance too.

02:30This marks the first time the town has come together since the plane crash on Thursday.

02:34Ramsgate Pride says the couple's legacy will always be part of the town's story.

02:39Gabriel Morris for KMTV in Ramsgate.

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