Mike Blakey

I found myself thinking about my friend Mike Blakey earlier today. Mike was murdered in India in November 2006, and I’m reposting this article he wrote in honour of his memory. If you should feel moved to comment on this post, I’d ask you to respect that.
Before I became a Christian, one of the things [...]

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What a racket!
All around the room the kids were jumping, laughing, dancing and shrieking. There is no noise like 6 & 7 year olds having a great time, no party so uncomplicated and riotous. They’d come to have a good time, and they were having it!
All except for The Lad. Dropped off by his mother, [...]

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This photo may not look like much, but it is very important to me and to many who’ve kept up with connexions over the years.
This is the land which has been purchased for the building of a memorial to Michael Blakey. Here’s the item from Tong Len’s newsletter:
After Michael’s tragic death on 26th November 2006, [...]

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This was originally posted by Mike Blakey, who was murdered a year ago. I’ve reposted this in tribute to him. He’s still missed.
Before I became a Christian, one of the things that put me off was the doctrine of fear that I perceived to be central to the Christian faith. The promise of God’s [...]

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Readers who’ve been around here for a while will be pleased to know that the Memorial fund for Mike Blakey has now reached its target of £20 000. That’s great news, but of course the fund is still open for further donations.
Mike was a young man of tremendous gifts, funny and clever, compassionate [...]

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The service for Mike Blakey was held on Tuesday evening at Sketty Methodist Church. About 150 people attended. There were contributions from a variety of Mike’s friends. His mother Mary read a poem and a former university tutor spoke of his admiration of Mike both as a student and a man. It was an emotionally-charged [...]

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Thought I’d share my latest piece for my church newsletter.
As I write this I am also preparing to travel to Burnley to take part in the funeral of Michael Blakey, who was so tragically killed in India last year. I go with a great sense of the privilege at having shared in Mike’s life but [...]

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Pandora is good fun if you like your music. (Thanks, Randy)
Wires from the Bunker continues his increasingly hostile attacks on the case for climate change. It is remarkable to me how he can be so completely dismissive of the scientific evidence on this.
Turbulent Cleric points to the revival of the “sanhedrin” and a look at [...]

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Wood shares a poignant thought
People die in violence in every second of every day; if we bore the burden of the grief of every bereaved soul, we would all be crushed.
Grieving makes you selfish. When you grieve, it’s like the death of your friend is the most important thing in the world, that his death [...]

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The funeral of Michael Blakey will be held on Saturday morning in his home town of Burnley. A number of us will be travelling up from Swansea, many by coach, a few others by their own means. I still find it hard to believe that he is gone. If you are not able to attend [...]

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I learned this afternoon that Pawan Bhardwaj, the husband of Rachel Owen, who had been arrested on suspicion of Mike’s murder, has been released without charge. It appears that he has been completely exonerated, which is obviously great news. Michael’s missing mobile phone has been found in the Punjab, and a second man has been [...]

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I realise that there is no shortage of charitable bodies out with the begging bowl at this time of year, but if you haven’t made your mind up which one to support yet let me offer you 3 internet-based campaigns.
(Red)emption is seeking to raise money for the Stephen Lewis Foundation which works for the relief [...]

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The Sunday Times is claiming that police are on the trail of another suspect for the murder of Mike Blakey.
INDIAN detectives investigating the murder of a British volunteer working for a Scottish charity have revealed that they are hunting another suspect in connection with the killing.
Senior police officers in Dharamsala, in the north India state [...]

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A fund has been set up to honour Mike’s memory with the intention of establishing the “Michael Blakey Centre” in Dharamsala. The Centre will be a focus for the work that Michael was passionate about - addressing the needs of the homeless, the poor and the deprived communities of India. You can give online [...]

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“How do feel, hearing the news that an arrest has been made in the investigation of Michael Blakey’s murder?” asked the journalist.
How do I feel?
Over the last week or so I have read alot of stuff on news websites speculating on the circumstances of Mike’s death. Stories have been embellished and distorted — I hesitate [...]

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I know everyone here at connexions are grieving Michael Blakey’s death. Many, many of you knew him personally, and the news has been a dreadful shock, and the grief has weighed heavily.
India Police have made an arrest in the murder of 23 year old Michael Blakey of the UK.
It is extremely important to note that [...]

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You might have noticed that I’ve added a “Mike Blakey” category to the sidebar. As well as the posts written recently about Mike, I’m going back through older blog posts and adding the stuff that Mike contributed to the category. I hope it will make it a little easier to find. It might take me [...]

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But the BBC gets it wrong
It is understood Mr Blakey had travelled to India from Swansea with his British girlfriend but the couple had later split up and she had married a local man who is now being questioned by police.
Understood? Not by anyone here. Either someone has made this up, or else they’ve added [...]

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Now the broadsheet newspapers have picked up the story
Daily Telegraph
The Guardian
The Independent
The Times
The tabloids have it too, but they’re not worth reading.
What irritates me is that at least one of these broadsheets had the story last week, because i emailed it to their newsdesk. But it obviously wasn’t news until all the other newspapers had [...]

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