Remembering the Ipswich victims of the 7/7 London bombings 10 years on

Richard Ellery who died in the terrorist attack in London in 2005 (Image: Archant)

The period of reflection – to take place at 11.30am during a service at St Paul’s Cathedral attended by the Duke of York – will be observed across the capital’s public transport network.

Announcements will be halted and bus drivers asked to bring vehicles to a stop if they can do so safely.

Transport for London said Tube services would run as normal but passengers would be asked to observe the silence and platform and other announcements would be halted for the duration.

Among those who died in the Aldgate bombing on that fateful day that will remain etched in our memories for years to come were Ipswich men Richard Gray and Richard Ellery.

Mr Gray, a father-of-two who lived in Irlam Road, was on his way to work as a tax manager in Pall Mall.

A founding member of Ipswich and East Suffolk Hockey Club in 1986, the 41-year-old worked for FW Smith Riches and Co for five years and in London for eight or nine years.

After Mr Gray’s death, one leading member of the club said: “Richard was a gentleman of modest disposition, charm, courtesy and subtle humour and above all he was a family man.”

He had qualified after taking accountancy exams in Oxford. Before that he had gained his A-Levels and O-Levels at Ipswich’s Chantry High School.

At the London Bombings inquest at the Royal Courts of Justice in 2010 Mr Gray was described as “above all a family man”.

He left a widow, Louise, and two children Adam and Ruby.

Reading a statement from colleagues, Hugo Keith QC said: “He was both well liked and well thought of by partners and staff alike.

“Hard working, conscientious and always ready to stop whatever he was doing and help others.”

A sad postscript to Mr Gray’s death came to a conclusion last week when his widow – who had been jailed for stealing £43,000 of the compensation awarded to her son for the loss of his father – successfully appealed her sentence.

Mrs Gray, now of Sheldrake Drive, was imprisoned by Ipswich Crown Court for 32 months earlier this year after admitting theft. Last Wednesday three Court of Appeal judges sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice cut her sentence to 18 months’ imprisonment.

Mr Ellery worked at Jessops camera shop in Ipswich town centre and was on his way to a training course at the firm’s Kensington store.

Originally from Southampton, the 21-year-old had only been working for Jessops for five weeks.

He had intended to get up at 6am to catch his train to London but did not awake until 6.30am and had to rush to the station.

In a text to his mother at 8.30am he said he was en route, as his train reached Liverpool Street station.

Confirmation of his death on the Aldgate-bound tube train came several days later.

Following Mr Ellery’s death Jessops closed all its 280 stores for the national two-minute silence.

Mr Ellery’s friend Tom Stopanic said: “Richard had a knack of making you feel better just by talking to him. You would go to him with a moan or a gripe and come away feeling so much better, but Richard would just say he had done nothing.”

At the 2010 inquest, a firefighter said Mr Ellery was able to give his name as he arrived at the scene but died before medics reached the carriage.