Crowds gather to say farewell to Jimmy

By Barnie Choudhury
BBC News

In Lee in south-east London the weather was downcast and wet. In a way it reflected the mood of its people.

Last week it was beautifully sunny and when Jimmy Mizen left home to buy his first lottery ticket he expected to come home to his loving family.

Ten to twelve, and the disturbance inside the Three Cooks Bakery had just begun. Soon afterwards he was left fatally wounded.

At precisely the same moment on Saturday, Jimmy's family made their way to their local Catholic church for his memorial service.

Like all the times I have seen them, they were together, clasping each other, as if giving one another mutual strength.

"Anger breeds anger and bitterness, and bitterness will destroy my family if I'm not careful - and I won't allow that to happen"
Margaret Mizen

It is difficult to know how you assess parents who have recently lost their loved one. But the Mizens seem extraordinarily forgiving.

Shaking, smiling, as she remembered her son, Margaret Mizen told a packed media pen how her Jimmy was born on Cup Final Day in 1992.

How strange then, they were honouring him during today's FA final. But was she angry? Not a bit of it.

"Anger breeds anger and bitterness, and bitterness will destroy my family if I'm not careful - and I won't allow that to happen," she said.

"I don't feel bitterness towards the parents because we're not in control of everything our children do."

The service at the Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church lasted just forty-five minutes. It was packed inside as was the courtyard at the front.

One local told me that had it been sunny, many more would have attended. But the rain did not keep this community away.

During the service Jimmy's brother Danny, asked the congregation to make sure they told their loved ones they loved each other.

His father urged worshippers to hug their nearest and dearest. The media were not allowed in - but I would hazard a guess there was not a dry eye in the house.

The spot where Jimmy died is only a few hundred yards away.

Opposite the bakery is a sea of flowers, a collection of school ties and a St. George flag that reads "New Potatoes". It means "See you later".

In his short life Jimmy Mizen made many friends - and they came in their hundreds to remember him.

He was part of their community and they were remembering a young man described today as a hero.