This Tuesday as a community everyone one of us remembers Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9.
We send love to their families; to their school friends; to all who miss them so much.
We also send our best wishes and our thoughts to all those children and adults who were injured and were there at the Southport tragedy last summer.
To all the first responders; the emergency services who worked so hard to save lives; the brave neighbours and passers-by who did all they could, and did.
As a town, as a community, we have collectively put our arms around all those affected these past 12 months. We have been ‘Southport Together’.
There have been lots of amazing community events. Some big fundraisers. Vigils.
As a town, we have pulled together.
What has left us all truly awestruck is how the families have all put their arms around their community.
Bebe, Elsie and Alice and their families are inspiring real, positive change.
Three incredible charities have been set up which are already, deservedly, enjoying huge support:
Elsie’s Story, Bebe’s Hive and Alice’s WonderDance.
They have already hosted and supported numerous fundraising events through all three – with huge plans ahead for them all too.
Elsie’s Story is sharing ‘her positivity, love for others and energy for life, creating smiles one page at a time’.
Elsie’s Story | Creating Smiles. Cherishing Memories. Spreading Hope.
Bebe’s Hive will ‘support grieving children through creative, child-led healing’.
Bebe’s Hive CIC 💛 🐝 – JustGiving
Alice’s WonderDance will ‘remove barriers so that every child can access dance, explore their passion, and grow through movement in a safe, empowering space’.
Alice’s WonderDance Foundation – JustGiving
If you want to do one thing today.
Please donate, or volunteer your time, or organise a fundraising event for one of these charities.
The families and their supporters have been relentless in their desire to create a positive lasting legacy in memory of the girls.
They’re bringing light after darkness at a time which is so hard for them.
They are utterly selfless, remarkable people.
We are truly in awe of them.
Others, such as Southport Hesketh Round Table, have stepped up too.
This Sunday (3rd August 2025) sees a Charity Match at Southport Football Club organised by the round table and the club, with every penny raised going to the Southport families. Kick off is 3pm. Head down and be part of something truly special.
This week, building work has started on the brand new playground and a brand new library at Churchtown Primary School in Southport.
It’s thanks to an immense fundraising campaign which raised over £350,000, partly thanks to Sergio Aguiar, Alice’s Dad, and headteacher Jinnie Payne running the London Marathon.
Earlier this year, the families of the three girls banded together and headed for a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street.
They secured backing of £10 million, and a pledge to lead the Southport Town Hall gardens’ most significant regeneration ever.
Next year, families will be able to see the creation of a family-friendly, child-orientated, and safe open-air performance and gathering space as a lasting tribute to the people of our town.
It is not a ‘memorial garden’ as some have erroneously said.
It is an exciting, vibrant, family-centred place that will bring joy and smiles to children.
What the Southport families and their many supporters have achieved, what they are doing every day, is moving, it is inspiring, it is awesome.
They are moving mountains, inspired by their girls, to ensure kindness shines through.
There is no better legacy than that.
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