In memory of
Damilola Taylor

Damilola Taylor's anniversary on 27 November brought the Archbishop of Canterbury and Tony & Cherie Blair to Peckham. They joined the Taylor family in commemorating the 10 year-old's tragic death which shocked the nation last year.

The Junior Choir of St Luke's, Peckham, who sang at the memorial service for Damilola Taylor. Its 25 members come from a number of schools in the area.

The Archbishop preached at a service in his memory at St Luke's Church, a few hundred yards from the place where Damilola was attacked.

He told a congregation of 200 that Damilola's death was 'every parent's nightmare'. "One year on, the pain and grief continue for Richard and Gloria, their daughter Gbemi and their son Tunde."

Damilola's family came to London from Nigeria hoping for a better life, he said. "Damilola should have had nothing to fear as he headed home. But the sad reality is that he was not safe. Far from it. There have been too many deaths, too much violence. Such deaths force us to look at ourselves and ask, how can we do better as a society?"

The Rev Jim Jelley, Vicar of St Luke's, led the service. Church member Sunny Lambe and local MP Harriet Harman read the lessons. Damilola's parents, Richard and Gloria, were in the congregation with their two older children and other members of the family, friends and members of the Peckham community.

Youth Centre

The Prime Minister and Cherie Blair then joined the family and other guests at the nearby Warwick Park Youth Centre which was re-dedicated the Damilola Taylor Centre. Mr Taylor unveiled a bronze memorial bearing some words which Damilola had written on a drawing shortly before the attack. "I will travel far and wide to choose my destiny and remould the world, I know it is my destiny to defend the world, which I hope to achieve during my lifetime."

Tony Blair said: "Damilola lived briefly and died needlessly. This Centre is his memorial because it will provide facilities for young people from Peckham to come here and have the opportunities that so many need and so many are denied."

Mr Taylor said: "The last year has been a difficult struggle for my family but the re-dedication of this centre in our boy's name marks a new beginning for us.

"We have had tremendous support from people here and all over the world. We had letters of great encouragement. People said prayers for us and strangers offered their sympathy and good wishes.

"Damilola's was a short, but good life. We thank God for him. He changed our lives and the memory of such a boy and his terrible loss will remain with us forever. But we are trying to move forward and look to the future. That is why we are here today."

Damilola Taylor Trust

Later, Mr and Mrs Taylor launched the Damilola Taylor Trust, set up to raise money for new youth facilities in this country and to give relief to young people suffering from epilepsy. Damilola's sister Gbemi came to the UK to have treatment for the disorder.

The Trust has three objectives:

• to help young people in inner city areas to develop their interests in sports, leisure or recreation and reduce the risks of bullying, violence, crime and drugs.
• to help young people who, like Damilola, are ambitious to study medicine but may not have the opportunity nor the financial resources.
• for the relief of the suffering caused by epilepsy especially in West Africa.

A number of people have already made donations including Leeds United and international footballer Rio Ferdinand who grew up in Peckham. Singers Gabrielle, Des'Ree and Damage are also contributing profits from the sale of their single Wake Up the Morning which was released on November 26.

The Damilola Taylor Trust, Barclays Bank a/c 80849537, sort code 20-96-55.