A SERVICE to commemorate those in the North-East who suffer or have died from addiction was held at Durham Cathedral today (Monday, December 15).

Bishop of Jarrow, the Right Reverend Mark Bryant, invited a small number of people from the addiction recovery community to join him in a simple act of remembrance.

Among those invited was singer-songwriter Henry Maybury, who lost his brother Tom to alcohol addiction more than a year ago and is preparing for his second Christmas without him.

Henry Maybury, from Shrewsbury, said: “Being able to perform this act of remembrance for my brother is great, lighting a candle for him in a place that has such a presence.

“It feels like I am keeping part of him alive, being able to go that tree and remember him.”

The event was supported by the Recovery Choir, which is made up of recovering addicts from the NHS-funded Recovery Academy in Peterlee, east Durham.

The event is the latest example of a strengthening link between the Anglican Diocese of Durham and the region’s community of those recovering from addictions including alcohol and drugs.

Bishop Mark said: “Christmas is often a reflective time of year when we gather with family and are most aware of people who are not there, people who have died, people for whom life is difficult and who cannot be with their family.

“Events like this remind us that there is hope. The Recovery Choir are people who are discovering hope.

“Many have gone to places where they thought there was no hope. We hope that Christmas is a story of a new beginning.”