Along the streets of Southport, there are few hints left of the tragedy which ripped through the town and sent shockwaves across the nation just months ago.
The floral tributes, teddy bears, balloons and cards have all been removed at the request of the families of the three little girls killed in a horrific attack on a children’s dance party. Many of the houses and shops which were looted and vandalised in the subsequent riots have been repaired and reopened.
And now just the odd pink ribbon adorns a door or gate in tribute to Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, who all died in the mass stabbing.
Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine (
PA)
For those who survived, life will never be the same, including dance teacher Leanne Lucas, who was stabbed in the neck, back and arms as she tried to shield two of her students. But brave Leanne, 35, has called on communities to come together and recently told a vigil against male violence that ‘courage will outshine fear’.
Speaking for the first time publicly since the ordeal, Leanne told crowds at the vigil in Liverpool last month: “The guilt, shame and fear we can feel as women will be outshone by courage, fierceness and our ability to connect.” She added: “Raise your voice and share your stories. Often we don’t realise how powerful we are”
Back in her hometown in Southport, the residents are doing all they can to pull together for the little victims of the attack, and make Christmas as magical as possible.
Leanne Lucas has spoken out for the first time (
Image:
Facebook)
Speaking about the decision to remove the floral tributes, Mark Foreman, from Southport Roundtable explains: “We are never ever going to forget what’s happened but our grieving process needs to start and its a constant reminder for the families – so a lot of the houses have removed them.”
He added: “Even some of the families and local businesses on Hart Street are still coming to terms with it, still going into the same workplace and location where it happened. It’s still a tough time and it’s not going to get better until after the court date when there is some kind of finalisation… but its still going to be in people’s memories. It’s left a really bad taste for the world really to think that sleepy Southport has had something so horrific.”
But with Christmas around the corner, the community is determined to ensure the festive period brings some much needed cheer and magic back to the town. Mark, who is close friends with one of the victims’ families is now helping to run the town’s annual Santa float by dressing up as Father Christmas and visiting every street in Southport.
Image:
CHRIS NEILL)
“Some of the families involved we have actually seen on our route and they have been looking forward to seeing us, because it’s a tradition and it’s one of the highlights of the year for them. For us as a group and charity we are just doing whatever we can really to make people’s lives easier and smile. We are in contact with the families and we are all just trying to grieve, get on with things and make the best out of a horrific year. Next year, depending on how long the trial lasts is going to be a very rough time for all the families affected so we will do whatever we can to spread as many smiles and do as many nice community events as possible.”
Mark was instrumental in setting up one of the first emergency fundraisers for the families affected in the attack, which has since raised nearly £100,000. It has already been used to provide cash support to the victim’s families, and plans are in the pipeline to give some of the remaining money to Alder Hey hospital, which treated many of the children.
Southport is trying to rebuild ahead of Christmas (
Image:
CHRIS NEILL)
In January, Axel Rudakubana will go on trial accused of taking a kitchen blade to the Hart Space community centre and attacking men, women and children. As well as the three murdered little girls, ten others, including eight children, were all left critically injured. Rumours and false allegations about the suspect fuelled hatred on social media, prompting riots in Southport and then across the rest of the UK.
Today Southport community mosque is still in the process of having new metal bars fitted to its windows to protect the building after it was held under siege by violent thugs during the chaos. But the following day the community turned out in force to return it to its former glory, after a brick wall was torn down, windows were smashed and rioters attempted to set the mosque ablaze.
Imam Ibrahim Hussein has since invited residents of all religions to the mosque to learn more about its members and bring the community together. And in another show of resilience the community space where the attack happened has reopened its doors in a fresh location.
Relocating to the White House, owner of the formerly known Hart Space, Jenie Scholes said the staff “remain heartbroken” and would “never forget” the events of July 31. Plans to build a permanent memorial for the slain little girls are also in the making according to the town’s Mayor, councillor June Burns.
And Mark hopes to help organise an event for all the families next year to commemorate the little lives lost. Now though, the focus is just on trying to make people smile, no matter the weather as we join him on his evening shift dressed as Santa. He said: “Life stopped for months for us, but for us to get out there it’s that joy you see on people’s faces, they are thankful for getting out there in the cold and the wet and we will try our hardest to make people happier and prove that the evil that happened back in July doesn’t represent us and we are all in this together.”
