THIS is the scene in Stubbylee Park, Bacup, a year on from the now infamous attacks on Sophie Lancaster and her boyfriend Robert Maltby on 11 August 2007.
Sophie and Robert were both left in comas after they were kicked and stamped on by thugs for dressing differently.
Sophie never regained consciousness and her family made the heartbreaking decision to switch off her life support machine 13 days later; Robert has never fully recovered.
Scores of flowers and tributes still adorn the skate park railings where the attack happened and more than £22,000 has been raised in Sophie’s memory through the SOPHIE campaign.
The message is clear: the people of the Valley will never forget this terrible tragedy.
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kate conboy-greenwood (08/08/2008 at 15:15)
Many people in Bacup and the Valley have shown their disgust at the shocking murder and attack of Sophie and Rob and have given their full support to the S.O.P.H.I.E campaign. We cannot thank them enough. There have been more events in Bacup, with three this weekend alone. and more to come with the fashion show in September.
The Freepress have been behind us all the way and we are grateful for that.
As the anniversary is approaching it is hard to bear the sadness of the last twelve months.
Thanks for everyone's help and continued support, we have a lot more to and through The Sophie Lancaster Foundation we will ensure Sophie will never be forgotten
Kate Conboy-Greenwood