Blog by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
There were lots of tributes at Southport Flower Show to the girls who were killed and those injured in the recent tragedy on Hart Street.
They were never far from anyone’s thoughts. As you first walked in, the Friends Of Rotten Row used pink flowers to create a heart shaped pattern in their honour. One of the two superlambananas was painted pink. Alan Foxall’s award winning design included a tribute to them.
The Southport Hookers guerrilla artists had yarn bombed an area next to the Floral Art marquee, including their lovely ‘Free Hugs’ bench – much needed right now.
Children next to the show gardens were collecting money for the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital charity. Bridge Inn Community Farm presented a Southport Together logo. On the piazza stage, singers wore pink.
It was fitting that the 100th anniversary show was opened by Radio 1 DJ Adele Roberts, a Southport woman who understands and loves the town. The girls, the tragedy and Southport’s response to what happened were spoken of often in speeches made.
The tone these past few days has been respectful, thoughtful, discreet.
There were lots of tributes at Southport Flower Show to the girls who were killed and those injured in the recent tragedy on Hart Street
The flower show took place just under three weeks after the terrible tragedy in which Bebe King, six; Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine; were all killed as they attended a Taylor Swift themed dance and yoga class at the Hart Space in Southport, on 29th July 2024. Several other girls and adults were badly injured and others left traumatised.
August has always been a month for flowers in Southport, but normally at Victoria Park. This year thousands upon thousands have been laid out in tribute at the Town Hall Gardens and on Hart Street.
There were lots of tributes at Southport Flower Show to the girls who were killed and those injured in the recent tragedy on Hart Street
Southport Flower Show is the town’s biggest annual community event, taking place since 1924 and attracting around 55,000 visitors every year to show Southport at its best. It is run by a local charity that maintains Victoria Park. It is supported by a small army of volunteers. It features many local exhibitors and performers. It offers an £11 discount on tickets to local residents. It was a fitting event to take place to bring the community together.
There were lots of tributes at Southport Flower Show to the girls who were killed and those injured in the recent tragedy on Hart Street
Some people had asked whether a show garden could be created at Southport Flower Show in memory of the girls, or a memorial unveiled.
Perhaps those are ideas to take forward to next year. It is still very early in the healing process. Not all the funerals have yet taken place. It will be vital that the families directly impacted by the tragedy are asked for their thoughts on any major decisions made.
There were lots of tributes at Southport Flower Show to the girls who were killed and those injured in the recent tragedy on Hart Street
In the meantime, the show was a time where Southport people continued to do what they have done so well these past three weeks; in so many different ways, they showed that the girls we lost are never far from all our minds; they showed how much they are loved; and how much are town is united. Southport Together
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