Sir David Ames The man killed in a terror attack on Friday admitted in an interview filmed 10 years ago that his family “paid a big price” for his service as an MP.
The Southend West MP died on the spot after being stabbed at a church in Leh-on-Sea on Friday afternoon.
A 25-year-old British man of Somali heritage has been detained under the Terrorism Act till Friday and is being questioned as part of the investigation.
In an interview from 2011, David Ames said that his family ‘paid a high price’ for his service as an MP.
Sir David Eames (pictured outside his surgery earlier this month), 69, was stabbed ‘multiple times’ by a man while he was speaking to constituents at Belfair Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea.
The popular MP, who has served Southend since 1997 after 14 years as Basildon MP, while performing his duties, was killed while meeting constituents in a surgery when he was attacked.
The 69-year-old was known for his devotion to the community and his responsibilities as a serving MP.
Now, as revealed in an investigative interview clip, Sir David has admitted that his family has paid a great price for his work as a Member of Parliament.
The interview was filmed in 2011 by Alex Bright, a sixth-form student who is now a local Conservative counselor in Southend.
In video, shared by sunday peopleSir David says: ‘You asked me earlier about the impact on someone’s personal life and how you balance social events with your family – very hard indeed.
‘I will just say – and I am speaking in the spirit of having five children – my family has paid a great price for me to be a Member of Parliament. there is no doubt about it.’
Pictured: David Eames, father of five, with wife Julia, son David and daughters Catherine and Alexandra, pictured at his daughter Alexandra’s wedding earlier this year, left
Alex, who filmed the interview while in college, told Sunday People: ‘That quote really stood out – looking at what just happened, it’s clear it was true.’
Paying tribute to the MP on Twitter, the young councilor said: ‘I had the privilege of knowing Sir David when I was 16, when I first joined the Conservative Party here in Southend-on-Sea.
‘Just two years later, he was generous enough to allow me to interview him for a school project, when I remembered that his commitment and passion for his role as a Member of Parliament clearly shone through.
‘An old-school statesman, Sir David was a kind, gentle, religious and deeply committed man – devoted to both his constituents in the Southend West and across the country.
‘He was such a first-class and patriotic MP that the residents of Southend were incredibly lucky to have represented him. He was an inspiration to those of us in politics and those who knew him.
‘Just being a politician, no one should be murdered. This heinous crime is heartbreaking and leaves a huge hole in the lives of Sir David’s family, friends, associates and constituents, and my thoughts and prayers are with all of them.’
This morning, people watch tributes left on the scene near the Belfair Methodist Church in Eastwood Road North, Leigh-on-Sea, where the popular lawmaker was stabbed to death on Friday.
Sir David’s wife and children mourn privately at home, with the MP’s cousin and extended family including a second cousin leaving a note celebrating ‘a great man and a member of our family’.
Outside the scene of the attack, constituents recall the work done by the ‘absolutely wonderful’ MP in their community during his nearly 40-year career.
Sir David’s cousins Moira and Pat wrote: ‘Thinking of your lovely family. Can’t believe this actually happened. Will love always.’
The last act of the MP was to help the children understand democracy before his assassination.
The Sunday Times reported that Sir David spoke to PR professional Richard Hillgrove to discuss Children’s Parliament, a program where young people are mixed with lawmakers.
Hillgrove’s daughter, 11-year-old Lola, corresponded with Sir David and visited him at school so that he could photograph him.
The newspaper reported that Mr Hillgrove ended the Zoom call at 12.02 pm, three minutes before stabbing the married Five-Five.
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