7/7 victims’ memorial

Jul 8 2009 by Sharon Liptrott, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

THE ANNANDALE victim of the July 7 London bombings was remembered on Tuesday at the fourth anniversary of her murder.

Helen Jones, a 28-year-old much-loved chartered accountant, was the only Scot out of the 52 people killed as they went about their daily business in 2005.

Four suicide bombers detonated explosive devices on three underground trains and a double decker bus in London during the morning rush hour bringing carnage and heartache.

Seven hundred people were injured.

Yesterday, a £1 million Hyde Park monument which commemorates each one of the 52 victims was unveiled by the Prince of Wales and Tessa Jowell.

The monument consists of 52 individually unique stainless steel columns, standing 3.5 metres tall, which are grouped together in four clusters to reflect the separate locations of the bombings – King’s Cross, Edgeware Road, Tavistock Square and Aldgate.

Helen died as she travelled to work on the Piccadilly line.

Her name is among those on a stainless steel plaque erected at the memorial site between Hyde Park’s Lover’s Walk and Park Lane, which was also unveiled for the anniversary.

During the London ceremony Helen’s name was read out by Sir Trevor MacDonald and a minute’s silence was observed.

Helen, who grew up in Templand and attended Lockerbie Academy, is laid to rest near the home of her mum and step-father, who live at Chapelknowe near Canonbie. Her step-father David Gould said that the family had decided to visit the memorial privately and away from the media glare.

Helen has left a legacy in the region with the coveted Helen Jones Scholarship awarded each year. The annual scholarship is financed by the Helen Jones Appeal Fund which was set up through generous donations from her family, friends, the public, employers and members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.

And funding, in her name, helped build the children’s hospice in Carlisle which provides comfort and care for youngsters in Dumfries and Galloway and Cumbria.