Large crowds turned out to pay tribute at the funeral of a British aid worker killed in Gaza.
James Kirby, 47, was one of seven World Central Kitchen workers killed in the Israeli attack on April 1. He was part of a security team travelling with aid workers who had delivered more than 100 tonnes of food when IDF air strikes hit the convoy.
His mum, Jacqui, said “James was a remarkable man, a true friend to so many people and above all, he was my son. I will miss him beyond measure and cannot comprehend a future without his presence. But I take great comfort from knowing he died doing something that really mattered to him, and the knowledge that he was loved by so many people from all walks of life.”
Kirby would "would drop everything else to help" someone (PA)James, from Bristol, served as a sniper with the Rifles regiment and had fought in Bosnia and Afghanistan.
Pal Brendan Forbes, 46, was among those who spoke at the funeral service at St Mary Redcliffe Church in Bristol yesterday. He said: “I knew James from the age of 13 and we joined the army cadets together.”
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Mourners grieve for James Kirby (Getty Images)“He had a passion for being outdoors and we were best friends. I joined the line infantry in 1994 and served in Bosnia and Afghanistan in separate companies to James.”
“It was wonderful being friends with him for so many years. Absolutely perfect at working a crowded room and making you think you were the only person in that room.”
"I will miss him beyond measure," said Kirby's mother Jacqui (Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)Veiner Gaston, 36, added: “We went to Afghanistan together. He was my cover. He was physically protecting me. I keep you from blowing up, and you keep me from getting shot, I’d tell him.”
“James said, I’m off to Gaza. He looked at it as a challenge to help someone. He would drop everything else to help them.”
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