Sierra Leone’s Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Mrs. Yvonne King-Odigboh, joined members of the *Kingtom UK & Ireland Association* on the evening of Saturday, 7 November 2026, for a solemn Thanksgiving and Memorial Service honouring departed members of the community, particularly former officers of the Sierra Leone Police Force.
Held at St Giles Church Hall, Camberwell Church Street, Southwark, under the theme “*Remembering the Past and Strengthening Our Communities*,” the event brought together bereaved families, community leaders and religious figures for an *evening of remembrance and reflection*.
The Association draws its identity from *Kingtom*, a longstanding community in the west of Freetown that is also home to the historic *Kingtom Police Barracks*. Beyond providing accommodation for officers and their families, the barracks holds a significant place in Sierra Leone’s policing history, symbolising generations of public service, shared sacrifice and community solidarity.
Against this backdrop, Deputy High Commissioner Mrs. King-Odigboh, conveying greetings from Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner, H.E. Dr. Morie Komba Manyeh, and staff of the High Commission, commended the Association for honouring those who had served their communities and country.
Paying tribute to deceased police officers, she acknowledged their sacrifices in protecting citizens, maintaining peace and upholding the rule of law, often under difficult circumstances.
“*To our departed police officers, we say: Your service mattered, your sacrifices will not be forgotten, and your legacy remains part of Sierra Leone’s national story,*” she declared.
As a former military servicewoman herself, Mrs. King-Odigboh acknowledged the sacrifices of police families and extended heartfelt condolences to all those mourning the loss of loved ones.
She urged serving officers to uphold professionalism, integrity and accountability, while encouraging the wider Kingtom community to preserve its heritage and inspire younger generations through service and responsible leadership.
Addressing Sierra Leoneans abroad, the Deputy High Commissioners stressed that “*distance from home must never become distance from our identity or our obligations to one another*.”
Delivering the Christian sermon, Reverend Florence Bull drew on the biblical story of *Naomi in the Book of Ruth* to reflect on migration, life’s uncertainties and the enduring significance of home.
She recalled how Naomi’s family fled famine, only to suffer devastating losses in a foreign land, before her eventual return home brought renewed hope and the promise of restoration.
Reverend Bull urged Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora to always remember their roots and maintain meaningful connections with families and communities back home.
In a particularly reflective moment, she asked: “*As we celebrate the dead, do we also celebrate each other?*”
With the gathering coinciding with the United Kingdom’s *Remembrance period*, she encouraged the congregation to recognise and appreciate one another while still alive, rather than waiting until death to acknowledge individual contributions.
Delivering the Muslim reflection, Sheikh Ibrahim Baimba Conteh reminded the gathering of the inevitability of death and the temporary nature of earthly achievements.
“*Where are the great men of the past, and all the people who had walked this earth before?*” he asked, urging members to reflect on the legacies they would leave behind.
He encouraged members to support the Association’s leadership and work collectively towards its progress.
Sheikh Conteh also challenged negative attitudes towards women in leadership, questioning why some people resist female leaders when women have demonstrated equal capabilities across different fields.
He emphasised the importance of prayer, honesty, reconciliation and mutual respect in building a cohesive community.
A poignant moment came during the candle-lighting ceremony, when bereaved families honoured their departed loved ones. Deputy High Commissioner Mrs. King Odigboh also lit a candle in remembrance of deceased Sierra Leone Police officers.
The ceremony provided an opportunity for collective reflection on the lives and contributions of those who had passed away.
The service also highlighted the continuing role of diaspora associations in preserving community heritage, supporting bereaved families and maintaining connections with Sierra Leone.
It concluded with a message that captured the spirit of the occasion: *remembrance should not simply honour past sacrifices but inspire greater compassion and responsibility towards those still living*.
As Mrs. King Odigboh observed in her address:
“*For although death may bring a life to an end, it cannot extinguish the enduring influence of a life devoted to service, family and community*.”
Abdulai Braima
Information Attaché