4:15pm Thursday 10th December 2009
By Emily Allen
A LASTING monument to young people who died before adulthood is to be built in Thame.
At least 10 young people in the area have died in the past seven years from illness, accidents or road crashes.
Now residents and councillors are backing the idea of building a £30,000 memorial in their memory.
Resident Bob Gallagher came up with the idea after seeing a roadside memorial to Chloe Owens, of Haddenham, Buckinghamshire, on his way to work. The 14-year-old Lord William’s School pupil was knocked down by a car in September 2005.
A competition has been set up for pupils, students and architects to come up with a design for the monument at Thame Town Council’s Youth Memorial Gardens, in the town centre.
There will also be a plaque of remembrance for each individual if their family wishes.
Mike Dyer, chairman of the memorial committee, is hoping enough money will be raised to complete the project in the next two years.
He said: “The main point is it’s not for the dead. It’s there to celebrate their lives and it’s really for the families and friends as a place of reflection.
“Youngsters don’t tend to gravitate towards churches and when someone dies young. Their friends are probably not close to the family, so they’re out on a bit of a limb with their grieving process.”
Mr Dyer continued: “We do feel we have had a terrible 10 to 15 years.
“It’s mostly road accidents but there has been illness and one lad died from a brain tumour.”
Maggie Stiles, of Ormond Road, lost her son Greg, 18, in May. He was killed and his girlfriend Abi Dowdy was left in intensive care after a car crash.
Mrs Stiles said: “It’s keeping their names alive in the local community. We miss Greg every minute of every day.
“This memorial will give them somewhere to go and sit and gather and be with their friends on birthdays and anniversaries.”
For details of the design contest see thameyouthmemorial.org
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