Knife Angel Past Location Archive

The British Ironwork Centre, SY11 4JH. Through its National Anti-Violence Tour, the Angel has visited a total of eleven towns and cities, spreading its anti-violence message, and standing up against all forms of violent and aggressive behaviours. For the tour to remain as successful as it has been thus far, it is imperative that the Angel can be viewed by as many members of the public as possible. Of course, with the current restrictions in place across the country, none of this would be possible and host locations would be unable to gain the maximum benefit from the Angel’s visit there. As such, the Knife Angel remained positioned at the Ironworks until normality resumes.

Southwater Square, Telford TF3 4EJ. Due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, the Knife Angel was on display in Telford until normality resumed and it was safe for the monument move to its next host location. Made possible by Angie Astley, Assistant Director of Customer & Neighbourhood Services for Telford & Wrekin Council, and Louise Hickman, Serious Violence Co-Ordinator & Knife Crime Lead for West Mercia Police, we have worked very closely with the West Mercia Police force, who were the first force to join our ‘Save A Life, Surrender Your Knife’ campaign all the way back in 2015 through various amnesties and knife banks.

Sage Gateshead, Gateshead Quays, Gateshead NE8 2JR. The Knife Angel has now landed in the most northernly point yet of its National Anti-Violence Tour – Gateshead in Newcastle, Northumbria. The Angel has been heralded in the North East and has been installed in Gateshead’s most prized location in Performance Square just opposite the Sage building. Made possible by Samantha’s Legacy, a charity formed after the shocking and tragic death of Samantha Madgin, Gateshead Council and the Northumbria Police, the Knife Angel’s stay in Gateshead will greatly benefit the North through its message against violent and aggressive behaviour.

Oriel Davies Gallery, The Park, Newtown SY16 2NZ. The Knife Angel has officially landed in Newtown, the first Welsh location to host the monument. Made possible by Powys County Council and the Dyfed-Powys Police & Crime Commissioner, the Angel was stood outside of the Oriel Davies Gallery in Central Newtown and was escorted from the Ironworks alongside Blood Bikes Wales, Widows Sons Masonic Bikers Association and the Dragon Riders Club. It was then joined by the Dyfed-Powys Police Force just outside of Newtown before being escorted to its hosting location outside of the Oriel Davies Gallery. Powys are the first region to commit to targeting and deputising 10,000 Anti-Violence Champions – an aspirational figure that encompasses schools and youth groups by allowing young people to stand up against violence and aggression in all forms, not just knife crime.

Chester Cathedral, St Werburgh St, Chester CH1 2DY. The Knife Angel returned back to its home region of the West Midlands and landed in the City of Chester, where it was on display outside of Chester Cathedral. As the 8th host city, the Angel was officially unveiled at Chester Cathedral on Friday the 1st of November 2019, displaying an important message against violence and aggression. This unveiling saw the Angel being greeted and blessed by the Bishop of Chester, Peter Foster, followed by a number of civic speeches conducted by members of the group who helped get the monument to the city. Also present were a number of families who have been affected by knife crime, including Chester mum Liz Ardolino, who lost her son to a horrific act of knife violence.

Derby Cathedral, 18-19 Iron Gate, Derby DE1 3GP. As the first east midlands location, the Angel stood proudly outside Derby Cathedral on Irongate for the full month of October and was made possible through the passion and determination of Derby Cathedral, Derbyshire Police, Derby City Council, Police and Crime Commissioner Hardyal Dhindsa, University Hospitals of Derby, the Burton NHS Foundation Trust, and anti-violence groups. In 2015, Rachel Webb’s son, Tom Webb, was stabbed and killed on St Peter’s Street in Derby. Later that year she supported an amnesty held across Derbyshire and knives from this amnesty were donated towards the creation of the Knife Angel. She also visited the Knife Angel during it’s creation and engraved a blade with a message for her son, Tom.

Rochester Cathedral, Garth house, Rochester, ME1 1SX. Fronted by Reverend Nathan Ward, alongside Medway Council, Rochester Cathedral’s Education Department & Community Partnership Team, and the County of Kent, Rochester were the 7th host location. Nathan began his educational efforts with a volunteer mentor scheme to provide young people and teachers in schools with conflict training to protect themselves and educate others about the importance of anti-violence. The University of Kent held a conference surrounding child protection and knife-related issues, led by experts from across the country such as trauma surgeons, and John Biccs, Chief of Police. Over the 28 days that the Angel was hosted in Rochester, the sculpture attracted over 45,000 visitors, including 2,500 school children in organised groups. This is almost six times as many visitors to the cathedral than in previous years.

Centre Square, Middlesbrough, TS1 2PA. The Knife Angel arrived in Middlesbrough in Centre Square, as they became the 5th host location. Getting the sculpture to the town took the efforts of anti-knife crime campaigner Theresa Cave, who leads the Chris Cave Foundation and POINT7 Anti-Violence Programme, in conjunction with the Police and Crime Commissioner of Cleveland Barry Coppinger, and the Town Council. Statistically, Cleveland has the ninth highest level of knife crime per 1000 population in the UK – a truly shocking number that has prompted the county to already begin ongoing campaigns to raise better awareness. Because of this, we felt as if they could really benefit from hosting the Angel and using its powerful voice to help launch new initiatives and programmes to turn the tide on violent behavior. Photo credit: Simon Mcabe

Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BD. The Angel was displayed in Victoria Square, the most central point of Birmingham city centre. Birmingham City Council leader, Councillor Ian Ward requested that the city hosts the sculpture along with the support of David Jamieson, Police and Crime Commissioner for West Midlands Police. Birmingham hosted a series of knife crime awareness campaigns and developed youth services to cover educating the young people of Birmingham of the dangers in carrying weapons. Alison Cope, who lost her son, Joshua Ribera, to a fatal knife attack in 2013, has since worked tirelessly to campaign for knife crime laws to change, for harsher sentences and for better education for children and young people in the dangers of carrying a knife in Birmingham and the wider area.

Coventry Cathedral, priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB. The Knife Angel stood proudly in front of the Angel St Michael sculpture and will encourage reflection and empathy from viewers for all the knife crime victims the sculpture honours and immortalises.  We worked together with Coventry City Council and in particular Cllr Ed Ruane, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, who personally championed the Knife Angel’s move to the city. Knife crime in Coventry is a serious issue currently after several high-profile attacks, including the fatal stabbings of The Specials’ Neville Staple’s grandson, Fidel Glasgow, 16-year-old Jaydon James and 27-year-old Daniel Kennell. The city hope the Knife Angel’s arrival will improve awareness of the affects knife crime has not only had on the victims and their families, but the community as a whole.

Queens gardens, Hull, HU1 3DJ. We worked closely with Humberside Police and ‘The RICH Foundation’ charity run by Kayleigh Pepper. Kayleigh lost her 25-year-old brother, Richard, to a fatal knife attack in 2015 and Kayleigh set up ‘The RICH Foundation’ in July 2016 in his honour. Kayleigh was a huge influence in ensuring the Knife Angel reached Hull where she thought its message could have a powerful impact on the people that live in the city. Alongside the support of Kayleigh, Officer Christian Sewell (PC 246) of Humberside Police also spearheaded the campaign in getting the sculpture to Hull. He has seen first-hand how knife crime and violence affects the community and the families. His drive to show the people of Hull the Knife Angel, its message, and how it could potentially impact the youth of the city into thinking twice before carrying a knife, was astounding. Photo credit: Daniel Britton.

St James Mt, Liverpool L1 7AZ. The first leg of the Knife Angel’s tour of the UK was in the city of Liverpool. Rob Jackson, a nurse from The Royal University Hospital, had worked for many years in the A&E departments and time and time again had seen horrific injuries from knife attacks. Through this, he wanted to make a change and make the city of Liverpool aware that knife crime and violence is a serious problem. Rob managed to gain the support of Merseyside Police, the City Council and Everton Football Club in getting the Knife Angel sculpture to Liverpool. The Cathedral also held a ‘Farewell to the Knife Angel’ at the end of its display, hosted by the very Reverend Dr Sue Jones. Following the Knife Angel’s visit, Liverpool reported over 250,000 cathedral visitors during the sculpture’s 28 day stay.