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The ceremony will start at the memorial ribbon tie on the Grand Pier’s boardwalk at 7.45pm. Attendees will be invited to join a short candlelit procession through the Sovereign Centre and across to the Italian Gardens, where the Knife Angel is standing. LED tealights will be provided for people to carry during the procession.
The crowd will then hear from speakers, including:
- Jubriel Hanid, brother of Mikhail Hanid, who was tragically fatally stabbed in Weston-super-Mare in 2020
- James Oakley, Mendip Green Primary School headteacher and a campaigner against knife crime.
The iconic Knife Angel has been in the Italian Gardens since 1 May. Standing 27 feet tall, it was created from more than 100,000 knives and blades confiscated by 43 of the UK’s police forces. Designed by Alfie Bradley at the British Ironwork Centre (BIC), the Knife Angel is a national monument against violence and aggression.
To coincide with the statue’s visit, North Somerset’s Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP) has worked with a range of organisations and community partners to hold a month of action to raise awareness about knife crime. This has included educational workshops, art installations, competitions and community awareness days. For more information, visit: www.n-somerset.gov.uk/knifeangel.
Councillor James Clayton, North Somerset Council's executive member for safety in the community, said: “It’s been a true privilege for Weston-super-Mare to host the Knife Angel throughout May. We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive response from the community, as people have engaged with our month of action and even shared personal stories of knife crime and violent crime with our volunteers at the statue.
“It’s these kinds of conversations that the statue was designed to inspire. Knife crime is a serious national issue, and by bringing the Knife Angel to North Somerset, we’re proactively raising awareness about this growing problem and helping educate the local community.
“After the Knife Angel leaves us at the end of May, it will be travelling up to Sunderland in Tyne and Wear as part of its tour around the country. However, our work to tackle knife crime won’t end when the statue leaves us. The North Somerset Violence Reduction Partnership will continue to work closely with police colleagues and other agencies to raise awareness, educate people and provide support around this deeply important issue.
“Thank you to everyone for engaging with the Knife Angel during its visit, and I hope to see as many people as possible at the closing ceremony.”