Mum’s moving tribute to son, 33, knifed to death
THE mother of a man who died after being stabbed in Heywood says he will “always be her firstborn baby boy”.
Matthew Mckenzie suffered fatal knife wounds to the heart in an attack in 2017.
An inquest into his death was opened at Rochdale Coroner’s Court on Monday.
It was previously reported that the 33-yearold had been drinking at James Hurst’s home on the night of January 12, 2017.
They left the house in search of more alcohol and stole cans of beer, vodka and cigarettes from two nearby newsagents.
Hurst and another man were then seen entering an alleyway, where Mr Mckenzie was later found dead.
Hurst was convicted of murder and possession of a bladed article and jailed for life with a minimum sentence of 26 years the following July.
He was released from prison 18 months before the fatal attack after being sentenced for an unrelated offence.
Manchester Crown Court heard Mr Mckenzie’s body was discovered by a dog walker in an alleyway off Promenade Street in Heywood.
A post-mortem examination revealed he had suffered chest wounds, with a blade piercing his heart.
Hurst then returned to his girlfriend’s house and bought them a meal from Mcdonald’s.
The following day Hurst rang his mother and told her: “I’ve stabbed someone Mum, on Promenade Street.”
On January 14, Hurst handed himself in to police.
In a statement read out at Mr Mckenzie’s inquest, his devastated mother, Kathryn Jones, said there is “not a day goes by” where she doesn’t think about her son.
She said: “It’s only when someone is gone that you realise how precious those memories are.
“He had beautiful big blue eyes and blond hair.
“I still remember in every detail his first haircut. I still have those baby curls.
“I still remember his first day at nursery. Matthew’s carefree approach to life came with its challenges. It’s fair to say he had his ups and downs in life. He was our lovable rogue.
“He was always able to make his family laugh.
“Any chance for future memories has been taken away from us, which is something I struggle with.
“There is not a day goes by where I do not think about him.
“He will always be my firstborn baby boy.”
The inquest, held by Dr Edward Morgan, looked at the probation service’s handling of Hurst in the community.
It came following his release from prison in 2015. The court heard how documents relating to Hurst during his time in prison repeatedly referred to him being at high-risk of re-offending.
The paperwork also said he posed a harm to others.
Dr Morgan said following his release from prison, Hurst was required to meet with the probation service on a monthly basis.
Meetings with his offender manager were scheduled during the spring of 2016 but some were missed.
Giving evidence at the inquest, Nisha Bakshi, assistant chief officer for the National Probation Service, said action should have been taken to reschedule the appointments.
Hurst should have also been asked why he was missing appointments and whether his absence was justified or not.
The court heard how he was also involved in an alleged report of domestic violence in June 2016.
Ms Bakshi said a recall to prison should have been taken following this incident. »
MOORHOUSE METHODISTS
SUNDAY, July 11, our morning service and sacrament commences at 10.30am and will be led by our minister Rev A Halstead.
As we are still under Covid rules and places are limited, please let us know if you will be attending on 01706 644134.
The government’s social distancing guidelines and the wearing of face masks remains.
We are also required to keep records of anyone who enters our premises for track and trace purposes.
These records are kept securely for 21 days.
Sadly, no refreshments will be served before or after the service.
At the conclusion of worship, so as to avoid congestion at the exit, people will be guided to leave the building from the back of the worship area first.
The minister vlogs will be streamed online on Wednesdays at 10am and Sunday at 10.30am.
The weekly services and Zoom meeting information can also be accessed on Facebook.
TRINITY METHODISTS
“GOD is love; let heaven adore Him; God is love; let earth rejoice; let creation sing before Him and exalt Him with one voice.”
Creation can sing but the now gathered together Trinity folk have yet to await the day when our singing can join in!
Nonetheless this Sunday our service at 10.30am, led by Barry Jackson, will bring our silent hymns and our expectant prayers to our God.
We are very mindful that the still-circulating virus is in our town and that it has the potential to bring great harm so all the necessary regulations remain in force.
“God is with us as we His people meet to offer praise and prayer.”
ST CHAD’S AND ST MARY IN THE BAUM
ST Chad’s, standing on the hill overlooking the town centre, behind the historic Town Hall, has been Rochdale’s Parish Church and an important centre of worship for the local community and beyond for over 800 years.
You are warmly welcome to join us on Sunday mornings in Sparrow Hill and at our sister church, St Mary in the Baum.
Please note the new starting times: 9.15am at St Mary’s and 11.15am at St Chad’s.
Tomorrow, Sunday, July 11, the sixth Sunday after Trinity, at St Mary’s at 9.15am and St Chad’s (with choir) at 11.15am, is Holy Communion, with Celebrant and Preacher at both services, the Rev Anne Gilbert, Vicar of Rochdale.
Monday next, July 12, at St Chad’s at 1pm is the funeral of Margaret Brown, with Officiant, the Rev Anne Gilbert.
Sunday next, July 18, the seventh Sunday after Trinity, at St Mary’s at 9.15am and St Chad’s (with choir) at 11.15am is Holy Communion, with Celebrant at both services, the Rev Anne Gilbert, and Preacher the Rev Darren Quinlan, assistant curate for the plurality.
All appropriate government and Church of England guidelines are in place, including face covering, hand sanitisation, social distancing and track and trace.
ST ANDREW’S, DEARNLEY
A CHURCH Open Day at St Andrew’s, scheduled for today, Saturday, has been postponed until August or September because of current Covid restrictions.
A new date will be announced soon.
Admission will be free, but refreshments will be available and attractions will include a recital by our church organist David Wright, a past-and-present exhibition, a bug hotel for children to make, a quiz, an opportunity to light a candle for a loved one, and much more.
Watch out for publication of the new date.
Also, there will be no more Knit and Natter groups until after the summer.
Online Morning Prayer will continue on Tuesdays at 9.30am, but in September Geoff (Hurst), our Lay Reader Emeritus, will lead Morning Prayer in Church on Wednesdays and our midweek Eucharist, currently held on Wednesdays, will then return to Thursday.
Tomorrow (Sunday) we have said Eucharist at 9.30am and streamed on Facebook as well as being open for public worship, socially-distanced, of course.
Please be reminded that anyone intending to attend needs to contact our PCC secretary David Johnson in advance to comply with Covid protocol and to make sure there are not more people in church than is reasonably safe.
Church finances, of course, have taken a big hit during the past 18 months or so, for obvious reasons, which makes it all the more important that we maintain membership numbers in our monthly fund-raiser, run by Janice Perkins, one of our church wardens.
If you wish to join, renew membership or pay subscriptions that may be due please ring Janice on 07730 367919.
She’ll be able to tell you anything else you need to know about St Andrew’s, and all we have to offer, while you are on.
Rochdale Foodbank needs donations, especially of tinned meat, and we have a box at the back of church in which non-perishable foods can be left please.
ST MARY’S, BALDERSTONE
SUNDAY is just around the corner!
Fancy joining us in person this week?
Our altogether service starts tomorrow at 10.30am. We will be looking at 2 Timothy 2.1-13.
No seat booking will be required, but social distancing protocols and safety measures are in place. We’d love to welcome you.
The SMURFS (St Mary’s Under Fives) had a lovely time at the zoo last Tuesday.
They even managed to stay dry despite the ominous weather warning of 90 per cent chance of rain!
It was a wonderful but bittersweet catch up, since for some members this was the last time before starting school in September.
The SMURFS team send best wishes to those leaving SMURFS this summer: “We hope you will make a lot of friends and have lots of fun learning interesting new things at your new schools. “You will be missed.” If you have any concerns or prayer requests, please get in touch by email at stmarysbalderstone@ gmail.com or see our Facebook page on www. facebook.com/ saintmarysbalderstone/
ROCHDALE UNITARIANS
TOMORROW, on Sunday, July 11 at 10.30am, congregation member Joyce Ashworth will be leading worship for Rochdale Unitarians.
This will be a slightly shorter service format, which will be followed by our Congregational AGM from 11.30am.
Church will provide drinks after the AGM.
These events will be subject to Covid restrictions in place at the time.
If attending it is important to: observe the directional floor plan, maintain social distancing (2M between persons), use the hand sanitisers provided, and please wear a face mask.
We hope you are able to join us.