Bells will peal again for Terry Waite as he speaks on the 28th anniversary of his release from captivity

The bells of St-Martin-in-the-Fields will ring out across Trafalgar Square on the evening of Monday 18 November as former hostage Terry Waite CBE shares his story to help raise valuable funds for Hostage International.

The bells will be remeniscent of the evening exactly 28 years earlier when church bells in parishes across the country rang in celebration of Terry’s release, bringing him freedom following 1763 days in captivity – the first four years of which were spent in total solitary confinement.

Terry said: “On 18th November 1991 I was released from captivity following which I helped found Hostage International to support the family of hostages.”

The charity, Hostage International, was originally founded as Hostage UK in 2004 by Terry and Carlo Laurenzi OBE, who both saw a gap in support provision for families and former hostages.

Terry explains:  “I often feel that the difficulties that families face are almost equally as difficult as what the hostage himself or herself faces.

“Hostage International gives much needed emotional and practical support to the families affected and returning hostages.”

The event has been organised by Dr Lewis Owens, a strong supporter of Hostage International who presented Terry with a St Martin’s Lifetime Achievement Award at a special reception at the Lebanese Embassy earlier in the year.

Hostage International is an independent charity that that supports hostages and their families around the world. Hostage International also delivers training and education to help organisations prepare for the potential need for family support and post-release support, assisting them in fulfilling their responsibilities to employees and their families in the wake of kidnap or other similar crises.

Terry will be speaking at Arboretum, London’s first sustainable private member’s club, as part of the club’s series of talks on the topic of Resilience and Community strength.

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Main image with thanks to © Graham Trott