Cantor's dead remembered at St Paul's

More than 1,500 people gathered in St Paul's Cathedral in London yesterday for a service of memorial for the 700 Cantor Fitzgerald employees who were killed on September 11. The firm lost more staff than any other in the World Trade Centre attacks.

Seventy per cent of its New York staff were lost in the atrocity, with 1,000 workers trapped on floors 101, 103, 104 and 105 of the north tower when it was hit. Twelve British nationals were among the dead

The dean of St Paul's, the Very Rev John Moses, said: "We pray for them, for their families and friends and we remember also all who were injured and who bear the scars of terrorism."

Staff in the company's London office had watched the New York attacks live on television, then spent days trying to find out if their colleagues had survived. Most had not. John Stride, a managing director of the company, said the service was "muted and emotional".

"Cantor International is well known for being family orientated and we just wanted to remember everyone we lost," he said.

Among the congregation was the Duchess of York, whose charity shared the 101st floor. She had been planning to visit the Trade Centre on the day of the attacks. "We are in deep remembrance for everyone who fell victim to the attack, and now we must fight on and move forwards," the Duchess said.

Cantor trades derivatives, treasury bonds, fixed income bonds and futures. While the company was brought to its knees by the atrocity, its business has since increased, in an apparent show of support from customers.

Earlier yesterday, hundreds had attended a memorial service for British publishing executive Sarah Redheffer, 35, who also died in the attacks.

Her father, the Rev David Prothero, led a service of thanksgiving at his church, St Mary the Virgin at Bathwick, near Bath, the church where Mrs Redheffer was married 18 months ago.

The Rev Paul Trenchard, a family friend, remembered Mrs Redheffer as someone who was "full of fun, full of laughter, full of enthusiasm".

"We are not here today to gaze into world events or to try to make sense of them," he said. "We are here to do something much simpler, to join together in grief at the loss of this young woman."