Crowds mourn killed aid worker

The parents of Linda Norgrove follow the coffin as it is carried from the Uig Community Centre on Lewis
12 April 2012

Aid worker Linda Norgrove "brought hope to the hopeless" and her death is a loss to the whole world, mourners at her funeral have been told.

More than 200 relatives, friends, dignitaries and local residents on Lewis in the Western Isles paid their respects to the charity worker killed in Afghanistan.

The 36-year-old Scot died during a failed rescue attempt by US special forces after being seized by militants in the war-ravaged country last month.

Parents John and Lorna and the gathering at Uig Community Centre heard Ms Norgrove "chose to live a life that matters" by helping the needy.

The humanist ceremony began with music from the places where Ms Norgrove studied and worked, including Mexico, Africa, Peru and Afghanistan.

Among those to address the celebration of Ms Norgrove's life was fellow aid worker Jonathan Greenham, who worked with the Scot in Afghanistan.

Describing her death as a "terrible waste of unrealised potential", he told mourners: "I do know that she was doing what she was raised to do and what she wanted to do."

Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt and Barbara Stephenson, minister at the US Embassy in London, were among those who attended the service, which was conducted by Penelope Hamilton of the Humanist Society of Scotland.

Ms Hamilton told the ceremony - which also featured readings, Gaelic songs and poetry - it was "abundantly clear" that Ms Norgrove made the best use of her life. She said: "We're in shock, numb, with so many things left undone and unsaid, with questions which haven't or can't be answered, and a mixture of powerful emotions."

She said Ms Norgrove "chose to live a life that matters". Ms Hamilton said: "She was a dedicated environmental expert, it's true, but it was her rare and precious gift of empathy with all people, no matter their condition, culture or belief system, that was her true driving force."

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