Memorial created to knife crime victim thanks to Oswestry firm
A friend of a promising rapper who was stabbed to death has been able to create a lasting memorial to him thanks to a firm in Shropshire.
Birmingham man Emmanuel Johnson designed and created a headstone as a tribute to his late friend Joshua Ribera at the British Ironwork Centre at Oswestry.
Mr Ribera, whose stage name was Depzman, died after being stabbed last year.
His mother Alison Cope was one of the first of the growing number of families who have thrown their weight behind the British Ironwork Centre's campaign to get knives off the streets.
As part of the campaign Mr Johnson spent a week with the centre's sculptor Alfie Bradley and staff gaining work experience and developing skills, both practical and social, to help him back into employment.
The British Ironwork Centre launched the "Save a Life, Surrender Your Knife" campaign to encourage young people to relinquish their knives and to help redirect them towards a more positive future.
Staff from the centre are visiting inner cities to speak to gang members and to ask them to give up their weapons.
Knives surrendered to the campaign will be used to create a large knife angel sculpture.
Clive Knowles, centre chairman, said: "The aim of the project is twofold - both to encourage young people to surrender their weapons and to help them to build a brighter and safer future.
"It's been fantastic to work with Emmanuel who has proved his abilities within a working environment and integrated well within the team - we need more businesses to be willing to give young people a chance.
"We will be inviting more young people, who may have been misguided for whatever reason, to visit the centre where we will provide the opportunity to gain work experience here.
"They will also have the chance to work on the Knife Angel sculpture, which will represent the culmination of Knife campaign."
The campaign team will be visiting the OsFest music festival at Oswestry Showground in August to get their message across.
Festivalgoers who visit the "Save a Life, Surrender Your Knife" gazebo will receive a free wristband bearing the striking campaign logo.
Mr Knowles said: "We would like to thank the organisers of this fantastic music festival for the opportunity to raise awareness.
"It is a topic which has such a profound impact on all who are touched by it – we will be able to reach out to a huge number of people to promote our positive message.
"Taking one knife from the streets might just save a life."
