Tribute to tragic pals as stolen benches replaced
POLICE CADETS DO REPAIR WORK FOLLOWING THEFT
A sHOCKED community rallied together after memorial benches to two drowned teenagers were stolen.
Craig Finn, 19, and Lee Flanagan, 17, were on a fishing trip to Knott Hill Reservoir in Ashton nine years ago when they were dragged under the water. Craig left behind threeyear-old twin daughters.
Their families installed wooden benches in their memory. But between saturday, April 8, and Monday, April 10, the seats were removed from their frames and carried off.
As a mark of respect, Trafford Voluntary Police Cadets spent a day installing replacement benches and laying down new plants at the site next to Ashton golf course.
And sykes Bespoke steel in Dukinfield donated two new benches to the families, made from steel so they cannot be damaged or removed as easily as the previous wooden ones. B&Q also donated plants.
Craig’s nephew, Adam Challenor, 18, is cadet leader, and siblings Rebecca, 16, Thomas, 15, and Katie, 12, are cadets too.
Adam said: “What happened to my uncle’s and Lee’s memorials was truly heartbreaking.
“It was done by disrespectful people who think it’s okay to destroy what memories we have left.
“The team of cadets are volunteering in their spare time to help put back together a field of broken memories which vandals took from us. I hope that when this has been fixed Craig and Lee can finally rest in peace.
“We are grateful to everyone who pulled together and donated to make this place a memorial again.”
The heartless thefts follow years of vandalism to the memorial area. Bonfires, empty beer cans and graffiti have blighted the spot, but as it is a public place, there is little the families have been able to do to prevent such behaviour.
Craig’s sister Marie Challenor said: “We go year after year on birthdays and anniversaries with plants and flowers, but every time we go there, someone sets fire to them.” The cadets’ work restoring the area ‘means absolutely everything, she said.
“It’s a place where we can go to remember Craig. It’s where he died, but it’s also a place he spent a lot of time having a lot of fun.”