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Stourbridge stabbings: School to build memorial for murdered 13-year-old Pierce Wilkinson

A secondary school will look to build a permanent memorial for a former student who died in a horrific stabbing.

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Pierce Wilkinson

Redhill in Stourbridge is planning to unveil the tribute to late student and double-murder victim Pierce Wilkinson when it is finished in July.

The commemorative sculpture is in planning stages but has gained the backing of the family, with Black Country artist Luke Perry offering to work with them on it.

Around £600 has been raised from students at the school to build the sculpture, with year seven, eight and nine pupils each taking part in a fun run. Lydia Wilkinson, Pierce’s sister, is said to be involved in the planning process and fully behind the project.

Head of PE at Redhill School, Mike Fields, said: “At the moment its looking likely that it should be sorted for July.

“What we did was the fun run the students did where year seven, eight and nine ran a mile each, the money that was raised from that will total around £600.

“That’s going to go towards the sculpture with some benches around a place for the students to reflect. Lydia was involved in the meeting, they Facetimed her and she will be involved in the process and the planning. She’s fully behind it, the family are fully behind it.

“They’re keen to have something as a permanent memorial for Pierce.

“With the nature of what happened it’s nice to have something a little bit bigger.”

Pierce, aged 13, was murdered by Aaron Barley, a homeless drifter who his family had tried to help.

Barley also killed Pierce’s mother Tracey in the attack at the family home in Greyhound Lane, Norton, Stourbridge on March 30.

Tracey Wilkinson

He struck as father Peter Wilkinson took the family greyhound for a walk. Barley also attacked him on his return, but Mr Wilkinson survived.

Artist Luke Perry, who has offered to work with the school on the sculpture, is known metal-works around the Black Country with his most recent work revealed at Mary Stevens Park in Stourbridge back in July.

Edwardian-style designs made out of steel decorated a series of information panels that tell the story of the historic park, which had been undergoing a £3 million makeover.

It comes after members of the P.E department at Redhill ran in the Birmingham International marathon in memory of Pierce.

Mr Fields, Miss Allen, Mr Porter and Mr Bishop ran the 26-mile course on Sunday with the support of Lydia Wilkinson.

A fundraising campaign set up by the four saw £3,480 raised - 221 supporters helping to achieve 696 per cent more than their initial target.

Mr Fields said: “We’re really grateful for all those people that have donated.

“It’s an incredible amount we’re quite overwhelmed by the support the people in school and students parents, friends and family have shown us.

“It was challenging, there were some tough parts of the course, some big hills in Bourneville that we had to run up.

“It was quite warm as well, there were huge numbers of the public on the course and they were so supportive.

“I think without that training you wouldn’t be able to complete it - you can’t just rock up on the day and run 26 miles."

Lydia Wilkinson with members of the Redhill P.E department after finishing the Birmingham International Marathon 2017

“The training is essential really.

“The last four or five miles was just putting one foot in front of the other, there were a lot of people who were flagging at the end.

“The last three miles back into Birmingham was a bit of carnage and the ending was incredible.

“His sister Lydia came out to support us with Alice Beeston.

“Lydia came out to support us so it was lovely to be able to see her at the end.

“She said how grateful she was.

“I choked up a little at the end - the hours that I have put in, there’s a whole mix of emotions.

“Knowing who it was for and who was behind it I think all four of us some point at the end or some point along the course got emotional.”

Mr Porter came in at three hours and 47 minutes, Mr Fields was three hours and 49 minutes, Miss Allen came in at three hours and 59 minutes and Mr Bishop came in at four hours and 17 minutes.