Alice Gross’s family has said the public memorial service planned for this weekend is to thank the local community whose outpouring of support and grief has touched them deeply.
It will start at 11am with doors opening at 10.30am, is expected to last one hour, and the hall has a maximum capacity of 500 people.
Amongst those it is hoped will attend are family, friends, teachers, local MPs and representatives from the police, fire brigade, Youth Music and Ealing Council, as well as the many local people and businesses who offered support and helped raise awareness.
Alice’s parents are particularly keen that those who printed, distributed and put up posters, the army of ‘ribbon fairies’ who tied yellow ribbons of hope across the borough, and those who have tended the flowers at Hanwell Clock Tower have the opportunity to attend.
The family would also like the organisers of the Ealing Half Marathon to be present after they gave 6,000 runners yellow ribbons to wear during the race.
The same invitation has been made to representatives of sporting clubs, including Hanwell Town FC, Hanwell RFC, Brentford FC, Ealing RFC, Chelsea FC and QPR FC.
Caroline Black, a humanist celebrant, will lead the event which will include music, poetry and speeches.
Alice’s family has asked that no further flowers, or other tributes, are left at Hanwell Clock Tower because displays will be removed from Monday (November 3).
A statement released by Alice’s family last week said: “We would like to thank everyone for being so kind and supportive. We have been moved by the depth of sympathy and compassion around us, not only from close family and friends but also from the local community.
“A tribute and donation page has been set up in Alice’s memory with Youth Music. We feel this is a fitting tribute to our daughter Alice. She loved music and music making and would have wanted other children to experience this joy.”
Donations in memory of Alice can be made at http://alice.poppymadeleine.gross.muchloved.com/
Condolence books will remain open at Ealing Town Hall and Hanwell Library until Saturday (November 1).
Councillor Julian Bell, leader of Ealing Council, said: “The impact of Alice’s disappearance and death has been felt by the whole community but of course most greatly by her family.
“I am very pleased the community has been given this opportunity to come together to take part in this ceremony.
“Throughout these terrible weeks, the Gross family has shown tremendous dignity under the most tragic circumstances imaginable. I am sure that, as a community, we can continue to support them whilst also respecting their need to grieve in private for Alice.”
There is limited parking near Greenford Hall and people wishing to attend are advised to come by public transport.
Brentside High School pupil, Alice Gross, vanished on the afternoon of Thursday August 28 after walking along the Grand Union Canal.
Her body was later recovered on September 30 after having been weighted down and concealed in the River Brent, yards from where she disappeared.
Latvian builder Arnis Zalkalns , who was the prime suspect, was found hanged in Boston Manor Park earlier this month.
