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Memorial concert plan for Sophie
10:34am Sunday 2nd September 2007
Comments (6)
A MEMORIAL concert is being planned for a 20-year-old woman who died after being assaulted in a park.
And Sophie Lancaster's family have vowed to support the tribute to their daughter as they spoke out to express their heartfelt thanks to all three hospitals involved in her care prior to her death.
The former Haslingden High student, died in Hope Hospital, Salford, on Friday August 24 having never regained consciousness after being attacked in Stubbylee Park, Bacup, early on Saturday, August 11.
She was with her boyfriend Robert Maltby, 21, when they were attacked, possibly because they were wearing goth-style clothing.
Police in Burnley believe there are still some people that have not yet come forward with information about the assault.
In a statement, Sophie's family, said: "As Sophie's family, we have been at her bedside and up to now have been unable to take the opportunity to thank to people.
"Our heartfelt thanks go to all three hospitals who were involved in Sophie's care, Rochdale Infirmary, Fairfield and in particular the Neurology Department at Hope Hospital, Salford.
"The care she received from the doctors and nurses could not have been bettered. They treated her with the kindness and dignity she deserved.
"We would also like to thank all of Sophie's friends, who along with our family and friends took the time to visit us at the hospital.
"This support meant a great deal to us during this very stressful time."
The statement said that the family had been approached by Sophie's friends who wanting to commemorate her "uniqueness" with a memorial concert.
"They want to work with the community to achieve this and we will give them every support we can", it continued.
"We are also aware of comments regarding the work being undertaken by the police.
"We would like to assure people that they are doing all they can to collect information and evidence to enable them to bring successful prosecutions of the perpetrators of this most devastating of crimes.
"We have every faith that they will bring them to justice in due course."
The man leading the investigation, Detective Inspector Dean Holden said: "We are still appealing for witnesses to the assaults to come forward.
"We believe there was up to 15 people in the vicinity at the time of the attacks and we would very much like to speak to every single one of those witnesses."
Five youths aged 15 to 17 have been charged with wounding with intent in connection with the incident.
Anyone with any information should contact Rawtenstall CID on 01706 237443 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.
Your Say YourThis Is Lancashire
Jez, Bacup says...
3:34am Sat 8 Sep 07
http://www.legacy.co
m/therossendalefreep
ress/DeathNotices.as
p?Page=Lifestory&Per
sonID=93459606
raverultra, shropshire says...
12:41pm Mon 10 Sep 07
Landsknecht, EU says...
1:20pm Thu 13 Sep 07
http://news.bbc.co.u
k/2/hi/uk_news/engla
nd/lancashire/699169
6.stm
I wish I could go to the memorial concert too, but unfortunately I don't live in the UK
kate conboy greenwood, haslingden lancs says...
11:03am Fri 14 Sep 07
thanks
Kate
Fai, Bacup says...
11:34pm Tue 25 Sep 07
raverultra wrote:I Knew Sophie personally and i thank everyone for the support towards the family and how much she touched everyone. My Boy friend's band is playing in the rochdale side of the concert. There are 3 venues in the rochdale area to cater for the amount of bands that have volunteered to play on Spo's behalf. one in Bacup itself, One in rawtenstall and one in rochdale on the 25th of November, the day before her birthday.
would anybody be able to tell me any details of sophies memorial concert my girlfriend and i would like to attend as a show of respect and support thanks. lee.
quote
SOPHIE LANCASTER
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Shawn Jackson, says...
2:58pm Wed 5 Sep 07
The World is watching.
I recognize that to your community I am an outsider, that there has been many from outside of your community offering sympathy and opinion and this may upset some. However, Sophie and Robert are also part of a larger community, a community that is world wide, the goth community.
I am a goth.
In a world where conformity and egalitarian philosophy are the normal avenues for society to regulate large populations through the media of pop (popular) culture individualism is pariah. Yet individualism still exists, exceptional people still exist in the midst of our failed egalitarian experiment.
Those who stand out from the crowd are habitually harassed and subject to social isolation, your child may not be goth but will suffer the social stigma should they demonstrate any exceptional talent. Many of these exceptional people, such as Sophie and Robert, are drawn to the goth culture, as are many intelligent and creative people. In fact I would go as far as to say that within the goth community lay the intellectual and creative trust of communities and countries all around the world.
As they mature this trust is what will provide the economic, cultural, and social stimulus for the growth and well being of the entire community. I doubt highly whether the young men responsible for this attack, collectively, could provide the economic potential of any one of their victims, it seems it is highly unlikely their contribution to society will cover their own costs to the community.
The world is watching.
We look now to the UK and its justice system to recognize the vulnerability of the community trust, to recognize this act as a hate crime perpetrated by bigotry and ignorance.
We watch, in muted silence, that society recognizes the need to protect the victims of popular culture that is perpetuated by the state. In short, we look to see justice done and a clear message given that there is no place in our society for perpetrators of such hate crimes.
It would be a mistake to radicalize the intellectual and cultural element with in all our communities by inaction or lack of a clear statement of justice and protection.
The World is watching, do not disappoint.